Basic information
The Institute was founded in 1964 as the Department of Animal Physiology of the Institute of Experimental Biology and it became an independent Institute in 1969. The Institute is dealing with the basic research of animal physiology as the only one in Slovakia. The Institute is using the up-to-date methods for the physiological research. The Institute is focusing on the optimalization of digestive processes in ruminants using the manipulation of rumen ecosystem to improve the effectiveness of energy transformation during microbial mass synthesis. The main focus is on the influence of enzymatic systems, minerals, probiotics and environmental contaminants on synthetic and degradation processes in standard conditions and in the changed rumen environment. We are using for that purpose the system of Rumen Simulation Technique (RUSITEC) which is unique method enabling the quantification of rumen digestion processes. Our researchers are dealing also with the study of endogenous urea utilization and selenium excretion in kidneys. We have developed the unique method for the cryopreservation of rumen protozoa. At the Institute the scientific school of rumen microbiology was established, which is oriented on the physiology and genetics of rumen bacteria, using up-to-date methods of molecular biology. The Institute is dealing also with the basic research of regulatory physiology focused on the study of neonatal nutrition influences on the metabolic characteristics and food intake in adult animals. The Institute is active also in the field of developmental physiology and current methods of electronmicroscopic immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR are employed in the studies of preimplantation embryo development, using complex methods of in vitro culture of mammalian embryos as the only basic research institute in Slovakia. The Institute is actively involved in multilateral research programmes of EU as well as in bilateral cooperations with the leading research institutions in Slovakia and abroad.
At the present the research activity of Institute is focused on the study of regulation of physiological processes of animals and their biotechnological utilization, mainly on the physiological processes in the digestive tract and physiological regulations of development. Possible applications of our results are in the veterinary diagnostics, optimizations of digestive physiology and food intake, in the reproductive biotechnology as well as in the environment protection.
Key words: digestive tract, microorganisms, genetics, rumen protozoa, cryopreservation, RUSITEC, kidney physiology, food intake, metabolism, molecular biology methods, immunocytochemistry, preimplantation embryo, RT-PCR, ruminants.
Contacts
Director: Koppel, Juraj, DVM, PhD
Address: Soltesovej 4-6, 040 01 KOSICE, Slovakia
Phone: +421 55-7287841
Fax: +421 55-7287842
E-mail: ufhzsav@saske.sk