From the standpoint of modern ideas, the normal functioning of the poultry body and full implementation her of the genetic potential is impossible without the presence of selenium in the diet. The biochemical diversity of selenium puts it in a number of priority trace elements. Scientists who were studying the effects of selenium on poultry body and paid relatively little attention to the quality of the meat. In scientific experiment are studied the effect of additives different doses of selenium in compound feed on the chemical composition, energy and biological value of meat of the cross chickens-broilers COBB 500. Introduction of selenium into the feed for broiler chickens in the doses which are studied (0.3 mg/kg, 0.4 and 0.5 mg/kg) did not significantly affect to the quality of their muscle tissue although it positively affected on some indicators that characterizing its chemical composition, nutritional and biological value. Among the experimental groups, the best meat quality indicators were in the second group of chickens for which was introduced into the feed selenium from the calculation of 0.3 mg/kg. When feeding mixed feeds with selenium additives to broiler chickens it was found that it is likely to increase the concentration of this trace element in muscle tissue by 60.6-100% (P?0.001), which does not exceed the maximum permissible level (MPL). Consumption of selenium-enriched meat of broiler chickens within the limits of the physiological norms recommended in Ukraine will ensure the daily requirement of an adult in this trace element by 23.6-29.4%. This meat product can be especially useful for people who live in regions with low levels of selenium in the natural environment.

It was presented the results of studies of the cadmium effect loading on the activity of the glutathione system of antioxidant protection in young cattle, namely on the activity of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, the level of reduced glutathion. It was established that feeding of cadmium chloride to bullocks at a dose of 0.03 and 0.05 mg/kg body weight contributed to a decrease in both the enzyme and non-enzyme link of the glutathione antioxidant defense system. The toxic effect of cadmium contributes to a change in stationary concentrations of radical metabolites. О2˙ˉ, ˙ОН, НО2˙, which, in turn, initiate lipid peroxidation processes. The lowest level of glutathione indexes of the antioxidant defense system in the blood of young cattle was established on the sixteenth and twenty fourth day of the experiment, it was associated with enhanced activation of lipoperoxidation and an imbalance between the activity of the antioxidant system and the intensity of lipid peroxidation. The feeding of cadmium chloride to bullocks at a dose of 0.03 and 0.05 mg/kg of animal weight did not affect the activity of the glutathione antioxidant defense system in their blood. It was established that the greater the amount of cadmium chloride in the feed, the lower the activity of the glutathione system of the antioxidant defense of the body of bulls. Thus, cadmium chloride suppresses the antioxidant protection system, in particular, by reducing the activity of the enzyme link: glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and non-enzyme link: reduced glutathione.

In the conditions of modern man-caused pollution of the environment, environmental problems, as well as improving the quality of livestock products and their food safety, are important and relevant issues today. The study aimed to investigate the effect of the “Metisevit Plus” feed additive on bull blood's morphological and biochemical parameters under lead-cadmium loading conditions. The research was conducted based on the agricultural private enterprise “Ukraine” of Dubrovytsia district of Rivne region on 12 bulls of six months of age, Ukrainian black-and-white dairy breed, which was formed into two groups of 6 animals each. The bulls of the control group were on a standard diet. The bulls of the experimental group were fed the feed additive “Metisevit Plus” at a dose of 0.5 g/kg of feed. This farm has a high content of lead and cadmium in feed. According to the results of experimental studies, it was found that the feed additive “Metisevit Plus” is effective under lead-cadmium load in bulls. Administration of this feed additive to experimental animals helps restore their suppressed hematopoietic function; the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin in their blood increased by 25.3 and 19.4 %, and the number of leukocytes decreased by 12.4 %, respectively. Metisevit Plus feed additive also enhanced the functional state and protein-synthesizing function of the liver of bulls under artificial conditions. When feeding the feed additive “Metisevit Plus”, a decrease in the activity of both alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in the serum of bulls of the experimental group was found. On day 40 of the experiment, it was found that the activity of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase in the serum of bulls of the experimental group fluctuated within physiological values. When a “Metisevit-Plus” feed additive is added to the diet, there is a tendency to increase the total protein level in bulls of the experimental group. In the study of the albumin level in the blood of bulls of the experimental group, its probable increase was found starting from the 10th day of the experiment. On the 30th and 40th day of the experiment, the albumin level in the blood of bulls in the experimental group was the highest, whereas compared to the control group, it increased by 15.4 and 17.0 %, respectively. Our studies confirm the feasibility of using the feed additive “Metisevit Plus” to prevent lead-cadmium toxicosis.

40Науковий вісник Львівського національного університету ветеринарної медицини та біотехнологій імені С.З. Ґжицького Львівський національний університет ветеринарної медицини та біотехнологій імені С.З. Ґжицького, вул. Пекарська, 50, м. Львів, 79010, Україна У роботі на основі морфологічних, паталогоанатомічних, гістологічних та морфометричних досліджень з'ясовано морфологічну будову підшлункової залози клінічно здорових собак та за хронічного панкреатиту. Морфометричними дослідженнями встановлено, що абсолютна маса підшлункової залози собак за хронічного перебігу панкреатиту відносно клінічно здорових тварин збільшувалась у 1,28 рази з 29,83 ± 3,0 г у здорових тварин до 38,33 ± 7,02 г у хворих. Відносна маса органу зростала у 1,19 рази і дорівнювала 0,19 ± 0,04 % у порівнянні з контролем 0,16 ± 0,03%.За результатами гістологічних досліджень виявлено порушення будови панкреатоцитів. В ацинарних клітинах зональність цитоплазми не виявлялась, панкреатоцити погано сприймали забарвлення і містили включення у вигляді краплин. Спостерігали каріолізис ядер. В острівцях Лангерганса виявляються вогнищеві крововиливи та руйнування ендокринних клітин. Міжчасточкові сполучнотканинні прошарки були потовщеними, а у залозистій тканині органу зустрічали сполучнотканинні тяжі, що проникають та розгалужуються у глибину часточки. На основі морфометричних досліджень встановлено, що об'єм панкреатоцитів та їх ядер у хворих тварин достовірно (р<0,05) зростає і дорівнює відповідно 455,51 ± 33,24 та 54,90 ± 7,24 мкм 3 (у клінічно здорових відповідно -356,06 ± 11,37 та 33,69± 1,62 мкм 3 ). Ядерно цитоплазматичне відношення панкреатоцитів підшлункової залози собак за хронічного панкреатиту по відношенню до клінічно здорових збільшується у 1,44 рази і становить 0,177 ± 0,04. У собак контрольної групи такий показник складає 0,123 ± 0,001.Ключові слова: статевозріла собака, підшлункова залоза, гістологічна будова, гістоструктура органа, патоморфологічні зміни, панкреатит, панкреатоцити, ацинуси, острівці Лангерганса, дистрофія, ядерно-цитоплазматичне відношення.

Hippopotamidae family is nowadays represented by two species within two different genera: pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) and common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius). The common hippopotamus has a very unique anatomy, and the shape of the body, especially the head is adapted for a semi-aquatic life style. The morphological examination and description of the gross anatomical features of the hippopotamus skull is described in this paper. The shape of the skull is adapted for the amphibian way of life. Their eyes, ears and nostrils are placed high on the roof of the skull which allows these organs to remain above the surface of the water while the animal is being submerged underwater. The skull is massive, but the brain case (neurocranium) is extremely small compared with the splanchnocranium and complete head. The dental formula of the common hippopotamus is: incisors (I) 2/2, canines (C) 1/1, premolars (P) 3-4/3-4 and molars (M) 3/3. Incisors and canine teeth are formed in the shape of tusks and are used for threat or “demonstration of power” among animals when vigorously fi ghting. Incisor teeth grow continuously and are twice bigger in males than in females.

У статті за використання анатомічних, гістологічних, нейрогістологічних та морфометричних методів досліджень викладено особливості макро- та мікроскопічної будови мозочка статевозрілої великої рогатої худоби (ВРХ). За результатами досліджень мозочок великої рогатої худоби характеризується загальними принципами його структурної організації та морфотопографії, проте відрізняється органометричними показниками. Так, за даними органометрії досліджень встановлено, що абсолютна маса мозочка великої рогатої худоби становить 72,59 ± 0,94 г, відносна – 0,02 ± 0,002%, його довжина складає 42,1 ± 0,36 мм, ширина – 55,3 ± 0,41, висота – 43,5 ± 0,44 мм. Сіра речовина мозочка розміщена поверхнево і формує його кору, біла міститься у центрі. У сірій речовині мозочка розрізняють три шари клітин: молекулярний (зовнішній), гангліонарний (середній) і зернистий (внутрішній), які мають різну товщину та характеризуються неоднаковою популяцією нейронів. Молекулярний шар кори мозочка найбільш поверхневий. Він містить невеликі нейрони – кошикові та зірчасті. Гангліонарний шар кори мозочка представлений надзвичайно великими клітинами Пуркіньє, розміщеними в один ряд на незначній відстані одна від одної. Їх нейроплазма містить виражені глибки базофільної зернистості, що свідчить про інтенсивний розвиток у них білоксинтезувального апарату, який знаходиться у вигляді дрібної або крупнішої зернистості, рівномірно заповнюючи майже всю нейроплазму. Зернистий шар мозочка складається з великої кількості нейронів: клітин-зерен та зірчастих клітин Гольджі, яких є два види (короткоаксонні та довгоаксонні). За результатами проведених цитоморфометричних досліджень середній показник об’єму нейронів клітин Пуркіньє мозочка у великої рогатої худоби становить 6581,62 ± 688,7 мкм3, показники об’єму ядра клітин Пуркіньє – 484,48 ± 94,5 мкм3. Виходячи із середніх показників об’єму перикаріона нервових клітин та їх ядер, ядерно-цитоплазматичне відношення відповідно становить 0,079 ± 0,002. У результаті проведених нами морфометричних досліджень архітектонічних шарів у порівняльному аспекті встановлено, що найбільша товщина кори мозочка ВРХ властива його молекулярному шару – 413,01 ± 10,84 мкм (53,2%), дещо менша вона у зернистому – 313,60 ± 13,84 мкм (40,4%) і найменша у гангліонарному – 49,03 ± 1,94 мкм (6,32%). Загальна товщина кори мозочка у великої рогатої худоби складає 775,64 ± 26,62 мкм.

The features of macro- and microscopic structure and morphometric parameters of the trachea of chickens of the Black Moscow breed of 180 days of age grown in conditionally pure and II zone of radioactive contamination are presented in the work using radiological, morphological, morphometric and statistical methods of research. It has been found that the presence of chickens in radioactively contaminated territories, feeding them with locally-sourced food, has an adverse effect on the respiratory organs, including the trachea. According to the results of radiological research, the increase of gamma background was established in the territory where the experimental part of the research was conducted. Thus, according to our observations, the specific power of the exposure dose of gamma rays for cesium-137 in the territory where the experimental animals were kept was almost in 3–3.5 times higher than this indicator for the relatively pure radioactive contamination of the territory. The specific activity of the diet for cesium-137 in chickens of 180 days of the experimental group was almost 8.5 times higher than in the control group of animals and was 13.4–16.0 Bq/kg, compared with the control (1.64–1.82 Bq/kg), indicating the cumulative capacity of this isotope. According to our research, the trachea of chickens of the experimental group has a pale pink color and is built of cartilage rings (110–120 units), which have a rounded shape. Its wall is formed by the mucous and fibrous cartilage and adventitia. The mucous membrane has a folded structure and is lined with multilayered ciliated epithelium and contains glands. Four types of cells are well differentiated into the epithelium: basal, ciliated, endocrine, and goblet. The fibrous cartilage sheath is formed by tracheal cartilages, which are interconnected by a dense fibrous connective tissue. The histoarchitectonics of the trachea of chickens reared in the second zone of radioactive contamination is similar to that of chickens in the control group. However, our morphometric studies noted that the animals of the experimental group increased the size of the terminal parts of the tracheal glands, thickened connective tissue capsules of the lymph nodes. The absolute body mass of the chickens of the experimental group, compared with the control group, tends to decrease and is respectively 2.96 ± 0.19 g, while the relative weight of the organ significantly (P ≤ 0.001) decreases to 0.284 ± 0.027%. In addition, for 180-day-old chickens that were constantly under radioactive contamination, the thickness of the mucous, fibrous, cartilage, and adventitious membranes tended to decrease compared to chickens from the conditionally clear area for radioactive contamination.

The article describes the features of the macroscopic and microscopic structure of the liver of mature clinically healthy dogs for the use of anatomical, histological and morphometric methods of research. According to the results of organometallic and cytometric studies, the absolute and relative body mass, the volume of hepatocytes, their nuclei and the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio were determined. Thus, the absolute weight of the liver in the mature dogs is variable and to a certain extent depends on the blood flow to the organ and is 427.4 ± 21.92 g, the relative weight – 2.69 ± 0.1%. Liver of mature dogs is a compact body of flattened form with sharp lower and lateral edges, with deep cuts, dark red color. The histoarhitectonics of the liver of dogs are constructed with connective tissue and parenchyma. The stroma of the organ is formed by a capsule, on top of which is serous membrane. In the area of the gates of the liver, the connective tissue of the capsule penetrates into the middle of the organ, branching and dividing it into lobules. Then it is formed by the hepatic plates by the intraosseous sinusoid capillaries. Liver plates are specific endpoint of the secretory unit of the liver. It has been found that in the microscopic structure of the liver of the dogs, the interstitial connective tissue is poorly developed, therefore the boundaries between the liver lobules are not sufficient. The liver plates behind the microscopic structure have a radial direction from the center to the periphery. The direction closer to the periphery of the particles is less noticeable, since hepatocytes are located in two rows, between which the sinusoidal space clearly appears. Hepatocytes had an irregular, multifaceted form. Their nuclei, which were mainly in the center of the cell, had little clarity of contours of carriel and well perceived color. During microscopic examination of the liver, it is swollen that hepatocytes of the central and intermediate zones are better perceived by color than the cytoplasm of the cells of the peripheral zone of the liver. According to the analysis of our cytomorphometric studies, hepatocytes of dogs have different sizes, which vary in wide range: from small to large. Whereas the average volume of hepatocytes in mature dogs is 964.72 ± 56.003 μm³; the average volume of their nuclei is 105.13 ± 2.02 microns. The nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio of hepatocytes in dogs of this group is 0.128 ± 0.122.