Ukrainian Journal of Veterinary Sciences

The results of the influence of autonomic nervous system (ANS) tone on the content of sodium and potassium in the blood of cows in summer and winter are presented. The goal of the work was to establish cortical mechanisms regulation of the sodium and potassium content in the blood of cows depending on the season. According to the results of the study of the ANS tone, 3 experimental groups were formed, 4 animals in each. The first group included animals normotonics, the second – vagotonics, the third one – sympatheticotonics. Materials for research were animals’ blood samples obtained from the jugular vein. Blood sampling was performed twice in summer and in winter. The iron content in the whole blood was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in a flame mode. The results of studies indicated that the sodium content in the blood of cows of different ANS tones in winter was higher than in the summer by 10.5–12.5% (p <0.001). In animals sympatheticotonics the potassium content in the blood in the summer was lower by 14.8% (p <0.05) compared with this index in animals normotonics. The sodium to potassium ratio in the blood of cows sympatheticotonics in summer was significantly lower by 20.2% (p <0.001) compared with this index of cows normotonics. The content of sodium in the blood of cows normotonics in winter was lower by 10.5% (p <0.05), and potassium is higher by 29.5% (p <0.01) in accordance with these indices in the summer, as a result the sodium to potassium ratio in the blood of these cows in winter was significantly lower by 30.5% (p <0.001) compared with the indices in summer. The season has a significant effect on the content as sodium (F = 154> FU = 4.41; p <0.001), so potassium (F = 7.72> FU = 4.41; p <0.05) in the blood of cows, and their ratio as well (F = 19.1> FU = 4.41; p <0.001). Prospects for further research are the development of up-to-date methods and methods for correcting the trace elements content in the blood of cows, taking into account the individual characteristics of their nervous system. 

cows, autonomic nervous system, sodium, potassium, normotonics, vagotonics, sympatheticotonics