The activity of the antioxidant enzymes copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and catalase (CAT), as well as mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (mGPDH) activity, uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) content, catecholamine degrading enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) concentration were studied in rat interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT). Rats were treated with either thyroxine (T 4 ) or tri-iodothyronine (T 3 ) for five days and then exposed to cold (4 C, 24 h) or housed at room temperature (22 C). Under basal conditions, T 3 treatment significantly increased UCP1 content and MnSOD activity whereas CuZnSOD, CAT and MAO activities were significantly decreased. Thyroxine treatment significantly decreased IBAT CAT activity while MDA levels markedly increased. Cold exposure induced a significant augmentation of UCP1 content and MnSOD and mGPDH activities only in animals that were rendered hyperthyroid by T 4 treatment. In T 3 -treated animals acutely exposed to cold stress, MDA concentration, an indicator of lipid peroxidation, was significantly higher compared with that of T 3 -treated animals housed at room temperature. However, in T 4 -treated animals, MDA concentrations were markedly lower. These results show that T 4 and T 3 differently affect IBAT parameters studied not only under basal but also under cold-stimulated conditions.

Heat stress in dairy cows is caused by a combination of environmental factors (temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation and air movement). Continual genetic selectin for greater performance results to increased sensitivity to heat stress. It was one of the reasons why lactation curve during summer has decreasing trend compared to spring in which lactation curve maintained within high levels. The trial was conducted in spring (April-May) and summer period (June-July) on total of 40 dairy cows of Holstein-Friesian breed in early lactation period (first 60 days of lactation). Milking capacity in cows and milk chemical ingredients (milk fat and proteins) were statistically significantly higher in the spring period compared to summer, while higher values of lactose were not statistically significant. Total average milk production per cow was significantly higher in spring period (42.74±4.98l) than in summer (39.60±5.09l) at the level of P<0.05. A higher rate of milk fat was recorded in spring in relation to summer period the level of significance being P<0.01. The content of proteins in milk in spring period was 13% higher than in summer. The established difference was highly statistically significant (P<0.001). Obtained values for percentage of lactose varied slightly (4.45±0.54% in spring versus 4.03±0.24% in summer period; P>0.05).

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of methimazole treatment on the body weight and thyroid gland structure in rats. Methimazole given as 0.02% solution in drinking water for three weeks induced significant decline in T 4 and T 3 levels, as determined by radioimmunoassay. The body weight gain was lowered compared to control animals, while thyroid weight was increased. Histological examination of the thyroid gland revealed a pronounced growth activation of the follicular epithelial component with frequent mitoses, accompanied with improved vascularisation. We assumed that the lower body weight gain despite decreased basal metabolic rate and similar food ingestion can be a result of brown adipose tissue activity.Kratak sadr`aj: Cilj ovoga rada bio je ispitivanje uticaja metimazola na telesnu te`inu i strukturu tiroidnè lezde kod pacova. Metimazol, davan u vodi za pi}e u vidu 0,02% rastvora tokom tri nedelje, doveo je do zna~ajnog sni`enja nivoa T 4 i T 3 u serumu, {to je utvr|eno radioimunoesejom. Prinos telesne te`ine bio je manji nego u kontrolnoj grupi, dok je te`ina tiroidee pove}ana. Histolo{kim ispitivanjem tiroidne `lezde utvr|ena je aktivacija folikularnog epitela, uz pove}an broj mitoza i pobolj{anu prokrvljenost. Verujemo da je sni`eni prinos telesne mase kod hipotiroidnih `ivotinja do kog dolazi uprkos ni`oj stopi bazalnog metabolizma i pribli`no jednakoj koli~ini unete hrane, rezultat odavanja energije aktivno{}u mrkog masnog tkiva.

A combined 3-week treatment by sulphur bath and mud packs led to a significant decrease of lipid peroxidation in plasma, as well as pain intensity in the patients with OA. These changes were associated with changes in plasma activity of SOD and CAT and a significant increase of hemoglobin level suggesting their role in beneficial effect of spa therapy in the patients with OA.

This paper provides an overview of recent developments in rearing conditions, health and welfare issues of dairy cows. The last approximately 30 years has witnessed worldwide increasing scientific research, consumer activity, and political response towards housing condition, health and welfare issues of dairy cattle. All buildings and housing systems for dairy cattle should be designed, constructed, maintained and managed to assist in the achievement of the Five Freedoms: freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom to express normal behaviour and freedom from fear and distress. Whether dairy cows are housed in cubicles, straw yards or cow sheds, in order to maximize their performance and to ensure satisfactory standards of welfare, the accommodation must provide the most basic behavioral and physiological needs. As an absolute minimum, the housing must provide a comfortable, clean, well drained and dry lying area together with shelter from adverse weather. Also, it must allow the cow to move freely around without risk of injury and certain diseases. If the housing system does not provide for these basic needs, then not only will health, welfare and production of dairy cattle be compromised, but it is likely that failure to comply with the welfare codes and the law relating to animal welfare will occur.