Investigations were conducted on 93 tongues of the rabbit, which were col-lected at day 15, 18, 20, 22 and 26 of prenatal life (p.c.) and at day 1, 15 and 30 and at month 6 of postnatal life (p.p.). The height of epithelial thickenings being the first forms of primordia of vallate papillae increased in the period from day 15 to 20 p.c. and the differences between mean values of the analyzed trait were statistically highly significant, p ≤ 0.01. Between day 22 p.c. and the 6th month p.p. developing vallate papillae, having in their structure a connective tissue core, increased in height. Differences in mean values of the analyzed trait between individual periods of life in the rabbit were statistically highly significant, p ≤ 0.01. Morphometric analyses showed that starting from day 22 p.c. up to the 6th month p.p. the thickness of epithelium also increased. Between day 22 and 26 p.c. and between day 26 p.c. and day 1 p.p. no statistical differences were observed, p > 0.05. Between day 15 and 30 p.p. statistical differences were recorded, p ≤ 0.05. In the other analyzed periods differences between means for the analyzed trait were statistically highly significant, p ≤ 0.01. Analyses showed that the growth rate for the thickness of the epithelium in successive analyzed periods in the life of the rabbit was more uniform than the growth rate for the height of developing vallate papillae.

The obesity is a civilization-related disease. The overweight leads to many disorders, f. e. impaired secretion and action of insulin and can lead to risk of premature death. Recently, new compounds which are responsible for food consumption and body weight have been discovered. Among other things they influence pituitary gland and pancreas changing their endocrine secretion. Ghrelin is a 28 amino acid peptide, which is supposed to exert orexigenic action. Its expression takes places mainly in stomach but also in pancreas, jejunum, duodenum, placenta, lungs, pituitary gland, kidneys, adrenal glands, gonads, lymphatic nodes, muscles, thyroid, heart, etc. Obestatin is 23 amino acid hormone which was described in 2005. Until now scientists have been arguing about its activity. Present article discuss biological role of ghrelin and obestatin and shows some controversial aspects of their physiological action.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the exterior of the Hucul horses on the basis of the following indices: head’s length, head’s zygomatic width and facial width of the head. The research was conducted on 341 Hucul horses of different sex and age which were qualified in 6 age groups. Each individual underwent measurement of the height at withers, the head’s length, the head’s zygomatic width and the facial width of the head. The obtained results in separate age groups were subject to statistical analysis of the indices of the head. Proportions of measurements of the head and their indices in the youngest horses were different than in the oldest horses. Only for the index of the head’s length, received values among horses classified to the group II were comparable with adult individuals. Sexual dimorphism of adult individuals was observed in the size of the index of the facial width of the head.

The research was conducted on 341 Hucul horses of different sex and age which were qualified in 6 age groups. Each individual underwent measurement of the height at withers, the thorax’s circumference, the height at the sacrum, the pelvis’s width (the croup’s) and the pelvis’s length (the croup’s). The obtained results in separate age groups were subject to statistical analysis of the indices of the thorax and pelvis. The body proportions determined on the basis of some indicators are typical of cart-horses and the thickened type of Hucul horse with abilities to pull large weights. The aim of the study was to evaluate the exterior of the Hucul horses on the basis of the following indices: height at the sacrum, force, pelvis’s width and pelvis’s length.

Conjugated dienes of linoleic acid are a group of compounds of multi-directional and profitable influence on human health. The synthesis from linoleic acid via alkaline isomerisation process is one of the mechanisms of their formation. The aim of the present study was an assessment of different plant oils with respect to their usefulness as a substrate to the synthesis of c9,t11 and t10,c12 conjugated dienes of linoleic acid. It was demonstrated on a basis of chromatographic analysis that poppy seed and sunflower oils were characterized by the most profitable fatty acids content as regards the synthesis of c9,t11 and t10,c12 isomers. The profitable content was observed also in the case of thistle and amaranthus oils, however they are practically unavailable on Polish market.