Abstract The study has aimed to investigate and determine the anatomical position, shape, size, and histological features of the ductus venosus, and its role as a shunt in the fetal circulatory system in domestic ruminants. The research was conducted on 19 bovine, 11 sheep and 5 goat fetuses, aborted at the late stage of pregnancy or deceased just after delivery. The general anatomy of the ductus venosus was investigated by in-situ dissection of the corrosive cast obtained by injection of 25% solution of Vinylite mass through the umbilical vein. For histological examination, the fetal tissue samples were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin, Masson’s trichrome, Verhoeff-Van Gieson and Gomoriꞌs silver stain. The results showed that ruminant fetal ductus venosus is a curved, trumpet-shaped vessel, situated in the central part of the liver, above the porta hepatis. Its ventral part is constricted in the form of an isthmus, having a prominent lip-like thickening at the junction with the portal sinus. Histological examination showed the dominant presence of collagen and elastic fibers in its tunica media, with thin bands of smooth muscle fibers oriented in a longitudinal and circular direction indicating ability for vasoconstriction and vasodilatation.

This study aimed to examine radiographs of Thoroughbred horse and compare radiometric and geometrical features between male and female individuals. To this end, dorso-palmar images of the carpal joint of 34 (17 female, 17 male) clinically healthy two-year-old Thoroughbred horses were analyzed. In total, 15 lengths and two angles were analyzed radiometrically, while geometric morphometrics was applied on 20 landmarks. In 7 radiometric measurements, the difference between female and male individuals was found to be statistically significant. All length measurements of males were found to be higher than of females. The statistically most important difference between the sexes was the measurement of the greatest breadth of proximal end of basis metacarpalia II-III-IV (p <0.001). There was no difference between the sexes for angle values. It was seen that the geometric morphometric analysis made with the Landmarks used in the study was not determinative between males and females. Thanks to the developing technology, the number of three-dimensional modeling technique and radiometric measurement studies is also increasing. In this study, the differences between the sexes were revealed using radiographs of horses of the same age, and obtained values will be the references for future radiometric and clinical studies.

Sažetak Tokom eksperimentalnih biomedicinskih studija nerijetko se ukazuje potreba za upotrebom drugih pokusnih animalnih modela pored uobicajenih laboratorijskih životinja. Cincila, gerbil i kanadska lasica su zbog svojih specificnosti veoma korisni potencijalni pokusni modeli u biomedicinskim ispitivanjima. Cincila je nezamjenjiv animalni model kod istraživanja srednjeg uha. Gerbil je posebno aplikativan za istraživanja iz oblasti neuro-fiziologije. On obolijeva od epilepsije te je s razlogom eksperimentalna životinja od izbora za proucavanje ove vrste bolesti. Kanadska lasica je izuzetno poželjan animalni model u eksperimentalnoj hirurgiji i ima niz prednosti u odnosu na stahore i zamorce. Kljucne rijeci: Chinchilla lanigera, Merioines unguiculatus, Mustela vison, alternativne eksperimentalne životinje

Spondyloarthropathy is a form of arthritis that affects spine, especially sacroiliac joint leading to the severe, chronic pain and over time, can cause complete fusion of the sacroiliac (SI) joint. The present report describes a case of spondyloarthropathy in a captive female brown bear ( Ursus arctos ) from Sarajevo zoo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Morphological inspection and radiograph of the macerated sacral and coxal bone specimen was performed. Both examinations showed complete bilateral symmetrical fusion of the sacral and coxal bone with syndesmophyte formation. Animals residing in zoos are kept under specific conditions which lead to inactivity and possible mobility problems caused by some sort of spondyloarthropathy.

Ultrastructure of plasma cells in Harderian gland was investigated using the transmission electron microscopy. For this research, we examined the glands of 32 laying hens collected at 1, 7, 20 and 40 days and 4, 6, 8 and 12 months of the birds' ages. The research showed that the stroma of the gland contains a large number of lymphocytes and plasma cells. Most of the plasma cells are mature, but morphologically do not show productive activity. Only some individual plasma cells, situated under the secretory epithelium of primary and secondary ducts, have extremely dilated cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum which contain moderately dense, granular material. The morphology of these cells indicates that they are in active stage of immunoglobulin production. Also, we identified plasma cells with two types of Russell bodies. One type of these bodies was small, round or oval, while the other had irregular, angular shape. It was noted that one plasma cell never contains both type of Russell bodies at the same time. These cells were often affected by apoptosis. Among them, in deeper part of the stroma, were situated the small plasmablast cells.

Abstract This paper presents the results of the research on renal blood vessels of the mink. The main goal of this research is to provide a unique insight in renal vessel constellation and thereby contributes to the amount and quality of the available data on the cardiovascular system of the mink, since the data found in the available literature regarding this specific field is rather poorly documented. Blood vessels of the mink kidney were studied by dissection and corrosion injection technique. The renal artery and its branches, and the lobar, interlobar and interlobular arteries are terminal arteries and they do not anastomose between each other. The arterial system is characterized by two independent vascular areas, supplied by the dorsal and ventral lobar artery. Lobar arteries divide the kidney horizontally into a dorsal and ventral half, while lobar veins divide it vertically into the cranial and caudal half. The renal vein is formed from the cranial and caudal lobar vein. The obtained results are compared with relevant literature findings on renal blood supply of a dog and other sympatric carnivores.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has always had a developed sheep production, at least from the aspect of the number of sheep per capita. Today, the ratio is 1 sheep per 4 persons, because the cattle production, globally looking, is decimated by war. Thanks to the geographic location of the country, the quality of mountain pastures and environment that is still healthy, we believe that with increased investments in sheep production we could increase the number of heads, which would have positive effects on production of meat and milk of exceptional quality. The study involving the uterus of Dubska pramenka during sexual season under nomadic conditions of holding, demonstrated that, in adequate zoo hygiene conditions (holding, feeding, treatment of animal), the sheep showed increased reproductive parameters as well as parameters manifested in meat and milk production. In our studies, microstructure of uterus of Dubska pramenka during sexual season shows extremely positive characteristics for nidation of the egg cell and normal development of the embryo. Epithelium of the uterus is in a form of high-prismatic cells, which points to significant cell activity; perfusion and development of myometrium are visible. The uterine glands are extremely well developed and their histological structure indicates increased secretion and preparation of the uterus for gravidity.

Abstract The Harderian gland of 110 laying hens was histologically investigated from the time of hatching to the period of 10 months of age. Tissue sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-schiff (PAS) and methyl green-pyronin technique. The research shows that lymphoid tissue is colonised by three types of cells: heterophils, lymphocytes and plasma cells. The number of these cells is directly dependent on the bird’s age. During the lifetime of the hens there gradually comes a shift in the dominance of these three cell types. Lymphoid nodules are detected only in 40-day-old chickens, while later in adult birds the Harderian gland is the organ which contains the largest number of mature plasma cells. Some plasma cells contain Russell bodies with different size and shape.

Morphological characteristics of the digestive systems in birds are direct reflection of evolutionary adaptations of these animals to different type and way of diet. The research conducted on domestic and some wild birds indicate that besides the evolutionary factors, time of start of food intake after the hatching, and amount and composition of food in the period of intensive growth also influence morphological characteristics of digestive systems in birds. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of extensive and intensive way of farming, and different types and amount of food on the morphometric characteristics of the small and large intestines in 45 broiler turkeys (BIG BUT 600). Statistical analysis shows that the way of breeding and the type and quantity of food all have significant impact on the body weight in turkeys but do not influence the length of the intestinal tract in these animals. Key words: turkey, digestive system, morphology

Morphology and morphometry of the bones are the methods often used for identification of species, estimation of animals' age, and genetic and forensic investigation. The mandible as the largest bone of the head is perhaps the most representative sample for this research. The aim of this study was to determine the basic morphometric parameters of the mandible of roe deer and sheep in order to identify the species. All samples were described by linear measure morphometric analysis of 12 specific anatomical points on the mandibles of roe deer and sheep. The results obtained are presented in the Table as mean and standard deviation. Key words: morphology, morphometry, mandible, roe deer, shee

Lameness in sheep, especially in semi-extensive breeding of Dubska pramenka, which starts in the interdigital region, was the motive of our morphological and histological research, in order to and in some way, bring the structure of the interdigital sinus in correlation with the appearance of this pathological state that causes extensive economical losses in the domestic sheep breeding,. The anatomical location of the interdigital diverticulum, its histological structure, which point to abundance of sebaceous glands around the hair follicles surrounding the interdigital opening and interdigital glands in deeper layers, point to the suggestion that their secretion increases due to poor hygienic keeping conditions. Pathogens - anaerobic microorganisms, which are most commonly causing the contagious lameness find the ideal conditions for their growth and reproduction because the secretion of these glands is likely "to close" the only "air" communication - interdigital opening.

Abstract – The largest and most complete joint in Bosnian and Herzegovinian mountain horse is knee joint, which consists of two joints: femoropatellar and femorotibial joint. From the point of functional anatomy and due to the load on the knee joint, the study of functional structures of femorotibial joint is of particular interest. Femorotibial joint is formed by the condyles of the femur and tibia. Femur and tibia are joined together by two powerful connections, the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments ( lig. cruciatum craniale et caudale ). By dissection the muscles were carefully removed, the joint capsule opened, the ligaments dissected and the menisci separated. The results of measurement are presented in the Table. The lateral meniscus (meniscus lateralis ) is highly developed. All measured parameters except for the width of the central part of the meniscus, indicate the lateral meniscus being greater than the medial meniscus. The objectives of this paper were to determine significant morphometric characteristics of the meniscus and meniscus-femoral connection of the lateral meniscus. Key words: horse, joint, meniscus, ligament