Characteristics of selected peripheral blood parameters in polar fox (Alopex lagopus L.) fed diets with inulin.

This study aimed at investigating changes in selected peripheral blood parameters in male polar foxes fed diets with different supplementation of inulin: 0.25% (group El), 0.5% (E2) and 1% (E3). The blood for analysis was sampled from the brachial vein. The study showed that adding 0.25 and 0.5% of inulin to fox feed resulted in a lower content of haemoglobin (Hb) as well as mean mass of Hb in red blood cells in the 0.5% inulin group. The total count of thrombocytes decreased significantly with a higher level of prebiotic, while the total number of white blood cells and the percentage of different leukocytes tested remained invariable. The lowest supplementation of inulin affected the partial pressure of carbon dioxide, however, the remaining acid-base parameters did not change. The present study provides the first preliminary information about the effect of dietary inulin on some haematological indices and acid-base parameters in adult polar foxes. The results may be helpful in practice to improve the health condition of farmed polar foxes.

Arteries of the brain in wild European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758).

Research into the pattern and variation of brain arteries in wild rabbit involved 43 brains. The main source of blood supply to the brain in rabbit are vertebral arteries and the basilar artery, formed as a result of their anastomosis, as well as internal carotid arteries the branches of which form the arterial circle of the brain. Variation in descent concerns mostly the pattern of descent of middle cerebral arteries, in 36.5% they were multiple vessels. The caudal communicating arteries in wild rabbit constituted a symmetrical anastomosis of internal carotid arteries and caudal cerebral arteries. They stabilized an even blood supply to all parts of the brain. The caudal cerebral arteries constituted the terminal branches of the basilar artery. A comparison of the blood supply to the brain in wild rabbit and domestic rabbit described by WILAND (1968) revealed lower variation in the arteries in the wild form than in the domestic rabbit.

The Arteries of the Brain in Hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778).

Research into course and variability of brain arteries in hare were performed on 38 adult hares of both sexes (males 23 and females 15). The arteries were filled with a synthetic latex at a constant pressure introduced with a medical syringe to the left ventricle. The source of blood supply to the brain was internal carotid arteries, whose branches formed an arterial circle of the brain, vertebral arteries, and basilar artery as the result of its anastomosis. Variability focused on a method of departure of middle cerebral arteries, which were multiple vessels in 39.5% of cases and rostral cerebellar arteries. Caudal communicating arteries in hare comprised bilateral anastomosis of internal carotid arteries and final branches of the basilar artery. It stabilized the steady flow of blood to all parts of the brain. Caudal cerebral arteries comprised final branches of the basilar artery. The largest capacity of all the arteries of the brain was observed in the main trunk of the basilar artery. The capacity of these vessels was 4.53 mm(3) on average. The factor of capacity of cerebral arteries in relation to weight of the brain reaches a high value in hare.