The aim of this research was to determine the concentrations of cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic and the essential elements iron and selenium in the tissues (muscle, kidney, liver, spleen, and fat) of fallow deer (Dama dama L.) without and with supplemental selenium addition. Another aim was to determine the effect of selenium addition on the indicators of oxidative stress, namely, the levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, and vitamin E. The research was carried out with 40 fallow deer during two research periods. Supplemental feed without selenium addition was provided during the first research period, and supplemental feed with added selenium (3 mg/kg) was provided for 60 days during the second research period. The concentration of selenium in tissues was higher in the second research period than in the first research period (in kidney tissue, 0.957 vs. 0.688 mg/kg, P < 0.05). The dietary addition of selenium decreased (P < 0.05) the concentrations of some heavy metals (lead in the spleen = 0.06 vs. 0.27 mg/kg and in the fatty tissue = 0.17 vs. 0.69 mg/kg; arsenic in the muscle tissue = 0.005 vs. 0.014 mg/kg, liver = 0.003 vs. 0.009 mg/kg, spleen = 0.004 vs. 0.013 mg/kg, and fat = 0.008 vs. 0.016 mg/kg). The activity of glutathione peroxidase was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the second research period than in the first research period (1375.36 vs. 933.23 U/L).

• MeSH
• arsen MeSH
• dieta MeSH
• glutathionperoxidasa krev   metabolismus   MeSH
• játra chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• kadmium MeSH
• ledviny chemie   MeSH
• orgánová specificita účinky léků   MeSH
• rtuť MeSH
• selen analýza   krev   MeSH
• slezina chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• svaly chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• vitamin E MeSH
• vysoká zvěř krev   MeSH
• železo MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Chorvatsko MeSH

We studied the effects of social rank on the haematologic profile in a herd of 24 female Iberian red deer hinds. Social rank hierarchy was determined and blood samples were taken and analysed. After adjusting for age and body mass, dominance ranking showed a significant negative effect (ie, lower values in dominant hinds) on white blood cell (WBC) count, haemoglobin and haematocrit. Our results are similar to those reported for stressed individuals due to physical immobilisation, but do not support the predicted enhanced erythropoiesis due to higher levels of androgens. The results for WBC numbers may also reflect that subordinate hinds must allocate a higher amount of resources to immunity as a result of injuries incurred from dominant hinds, while simultaneously facing restricted access to food sources. For red blood cell (RBC) counts, the results may be due to subordinate hinds likely needing increased haematocrit and haemoglobin levels for fast flight responses. Our data show that social rank influences haematologic profile, and thus it should be considered when correctly interpreting blood analyses in social cervid species.

• MeSH
• sociální hierarchie * MeSH
• vysoká zvěř krev   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of a change in the social composition in a group of red deer males on the relationship between their rank and testosterone. A group of twelve adult red deer males (Cervus elaphus) was tested in two social settings. From April 15 to June 9 (Period 1) this group was kept separately in an enclosure. On June 10, nine 3-year-old males were added to that group of adult males. They were kept together until August 31. We performed 10 observations of the group when the agonistic interactions of the males were recorded and we took 9 blood samples per male in Period 1; 11 observations were made and 10 samples were taken in Period 2. Concentrations of testosterone and cortisol were later determined in plasma. Adding much younger and smaller sparring partners into the experimental group of adult males in Period 2 altered the agonistic behaviour of the adults even though this did not trigger any change in rank position of the experimental males except one. Adult males targeted preferentially their attacks on individuals much lower in the hierarchy. Experimental male deer with higher social rank had lower levels of testosterone in Period 1; in Period 2 it was just the opposite. In Period 1 the animals had higher cortisol levels than in Period 2. As controls we used four adult (5years old) males sharing the enclosure with four 3-year-old males. No changes in hormone concentrations were observed in the control group. Thus, changing the social environment of adult red deer males resulted in change of the relationship between rank and testosterone and cortisol concentrations.

• MeSH
• analýza rozptylu MeSH
• hydrokortison krev   MeSH
• imunoenzymatické techniky MeSH
• sociální dominance MeSH
• sociální hierarchie MeSH
• sociální prostředí MeSH
• testosteron krev   MeSH
• vysoká zvěř krev   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH