Earlier we found that the puerperal period of ewes lambing in February was finished by day 34 post partum.The aim of this paper was to study the puerperal changes in ewes that lambed in September. Structural changes in the endometrium of the caruncular region were studied in 12 Slovak Merino ewes that lambed in September. The animals were killed on days 7, 17, 25 and 34 post partum. Samples were taken from the caruncular region of their uterine horns. The tissue samples were fixed, dehydrated and embedded in paraffin, and 7-10 mm sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Microscopic analysis was performed using a projection microscope. Simultaneously the collected material was stained with toluidine-blue, and examined on the semi-thin sections. The epithelium above the caruncles was entirely destroyed on day 7. Damaged mitochondria and dilated cisterns of the endoplasmic reticulum were found in the electron micrographs. On day 17, the epithelium covered gradually a sizeable caruncle. The glandular epithelium was considerably degenerated. The caruncle was markedly reduced on day 25, and the endometrium was covered with epithelium. The endometrium was totally covered with epithelium, and cellular ultrastructure was no more damaged on day 34 post partum. The study of micromorphology of endometrial structure in caruncular area revealed that also in ewes that lambed in September, the puerperium is finished by day 34 post partum. Its course and timing did not differ from that seen in ewes lambing in February. The results extend the knowledge of the puerperal changes in different season of the year. Caruncular region, endometrium, ewe, histological structures, post partum, season of the year One of the factors that may unfavourably affect fertility is the course of the involutional and reparatory processes of the uterus in the postpartal period. At the onset of postpartal reproductive activity it is necessary to take into account the breed, the season of the year, nutrition, and the length of suckling (Kudláã 1985; DoleÏel 1989). The macroscopic changes occurring during involution of the sheep uterus were reported by Foote and Call (1969); Crowder et al. (1982); Botha (1976); Van Wyk et al. (1972); Krajniãáková (1990); Greyling and Van Niekerk (1991) in goat, and Massányi (1996) in rabbits. A comprehensive histological study of the sheep uterus post partum was carried out by Uren (1935); and Van Wyk et al. (1972) who found that the involution process of the uterus was completed by day 28 post partum. Botha (1976) reported that both the season and lactation influence epithelisation of the caruncles. The author observed sheep that lambed during the out-of-mating season (August) to have epithelisation in the caruncular region finished on day 34 post partum whereas those that lambed in the lambing season (March) on day 30 post partum.

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KóÀová M., E. Békeová, M. Levkut: The Effects of Chlorine Intake on Some Morphometric Parameters of the Thyroid Gland in Lambs. Acta Vet. Brno 1999, 68: 191-195.The aim of the study was to determine whether drinking water containing two concentrations of chlorine (0.3 mg . l -1 or 1.8 mg . l -1 ) affects morphometric indicators of follicular epithelial cells and the diameter of thyroid gland follicles in young lambs.The height of follicular epithelial cells, the diameter of thyroid gland follicles, the frequency of epithelial cell height categories, and the frequency of follicular diameter categories were studied in two groups of lambs after two treatments: one for four weeks and the other for three months. The first group had access to drinking water with 0.3 mg . l -1 chlorine (short-term intake and low Cl concentration) for four weeks. The second group had access to drinking water containing 1.8 mg . l -1 chlorine (long-term intake and high concentration) for three months.A significant increase (P < 0.01) in follicular epithelial cell height and a significant frequency distribution shift to the higher cellular height categories was observed after intake of chlorinated water (0.3 mg . l -1 ), (P < 0.01 for cell height categories 3.1-4 and 4.1-5 µm) for four weeks. There was also a significant shift (P < 0.01 for cell height categories 4.1-5 and 5.1-6 µm) in lambs receiving 1.8 mg . l -1 chlorine in their drinking water for three months as compared to controls.The diameter of thyroid gland follicles significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and the percent of small thyroid follicles significantly increased (for diameter categories 20.1-40 and 40.1-60 µm P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively) in lambs receiving 1.8 mg . l -1 chlorine in drinking water for three months as compared to controls.Our morphometric findings suggest that chlorine interferes with the thyroid metabolism in lambs, however, with no macroscopically detectable changes of the thyroid.

The effect of Depotocin inj. Spofa on concentrations of cholesterol, total lipids and progesterone with subsequent synchronization effect on the conception of ewes was studied. A total of 19 ewes were included in the experiment; 10 animals served as a control, and 9 sheep were treated with Depotocin inj. Spofa 2 -0 -methylthyrosin (deamino -1 -carba) oxytocinum at a dose of 2 x 0.07 mg, 24 and 72 h after lambing, respectively. Blood samples were obtained from v.jugularis at 36 h post partum, and on days 4, 7, 14, 17,21,25,34,42 and 51 after lambing. Agelin vaginal tampons were inserted to sheep of both groups after day 51 (20 mg of chlorsuperlutine). Ten days later, the tampons were removed and the animals were injected with 500 I. U. of PMSG. The expected date of parturition was calculated from the date of mating. Cholesterol and total lipids were determined using BIO-LA tests (LACHEMA, Bmo) and the concentrations of progesterone were determined by the radioimunological method, using kits from 0RJvr, Ko §ice. Cholesterol concentrations showed no significant differences between the control and experimental groups (P > 0.05). The concentrations of total lipids oscillated in the experimental group from day 25 post partum at non-significantly higher values in comparison with the control group by the end of the period studied (1.78 ± 0.48 to 2.45 ± 0.35 g . 1. 1 ). In the experimental group, the levels of progesterone increased slowly on days 34 and 51 (0.5 ± 0.8 to 0.8 ± 1.3 nmol.l· I ). In other sampling days, its values were under the level of sensitivity of the trial. In conclusion, lambing after the oestrus induction on day 51 post partum showed that a 100% lambing with birth of 16 lambs was achieved in the experimental group whereas in the control group only 5 out of 10 mated animals lambed. , ewe, Depotocin, total lipids, cholesterol, progesterone Puerperium length and course in ewes are extremely important from the point of view of lamb meat and lamb broilers production. In our previous studies (KrajniUlkova 1990;Krajnicakova et al. 1991Krajnicakova et al. , 1992, the attention was paid to the physiological course of puerperium and medicamentous influencing of postpartal reparative processes on the reproductive apparatus of sheep following repeated administration of Depotocin inj. Spofa in early puerperium; the authors recorded a 64.3% decrease in the mass of uterine body and uterine horns as early as on day 7 of the period under study. The effect of repeated administration of Depotocin inj. Spofa on the dynamics of concentration changes of thyroxine, triiodothyronine and ovarian steroids was studied by Be k e 0 v a et al. (1992). The authors revealed that the administered carbetocin induces changes in the synthesis and production of both thyroid and steroid hormones through a direct or indirect effect. PuerperiumOxytocin, in addition to its uterotonic and luteolytic effect, acts as an ovarian factor in the local interfollicular regulation of steroidogenesis and as a modulator of uterine secretion of pro...