Department of Morphological Disciplines

Scientific research activity

The Workplace of Anatomy has long been focusing on the study of the vascular system of laboratory animals. Regarding the high morphological variability of the vascular system with varied prevalence in different parts of the body and with the possible occurrence of anastomoses and alternative pathways, we study the arrangement of the vascular system with an emphasis on anatomical variations, communication of veins, changes in the existence and position of vessels, formation of common branches and analysis of mutual vascular relationships.

In recent years, the Department of Anatomy has been dealing with a highly relevant topic falling under regenerative medicine, which belongs to the dynamic fields of modern orthopaedic therapy. This has led to the need for the involvement of scientific teams in addressing the issues related to the treatment of traumatic injuries to cartilage and bone tissue. The Workplace of Anatomy deals with complex in vivo preclinical testing of new types of biomaterials developed in cooperation with the team of the Institute of Materials Research of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. The interconnection between university and academic research has enabled a synergistic complementation and acceleration of biomaterial development in the given field in the Košice region. As a result, the materials developed possess functionality that can be classified as top-level, at least on a European scale. Preliminary results at the in vitro and ex ovo levels have confirmed the safety and biocompatibility of the developed biomaterials.. Currently, preclinical preliminary studies are being conducted on in vivo models of large animals, which confirm the effectiveness and efficiency of treatment of larger defects of cartilaginous tissue by applying porous biopolymer composite systems. The aim of the cooperation is to markedly accelerate the healing of joint cartilage defects with complete healing and formation of qualitatively comparable cartilage tissue and subchondral bone compared to the surrounding original tissue. The results contribute to the latest knowledge of the regeneration of cartilaginous and bone tissue, with subsequent application of developed and functional biomaterials in the clinical practice of veterinary and human medicine.

The scientific research activities of the Workplace of Histology and Embryology have long been focused on the study of the structure and ultrastructure of selected tissues and organs of animals that have been exposed to various physical or chemical environmental risk factors. Recently, the scientific research activity has focused on clarifying the impact of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation applied during prenatal development on selected organs and tissues of adult and juvenile rats, as well as organs and tissues of chicken embryos. The research is carried out using conventional histopathological examination methods, including the use of light and transmission electron microscopy, as well as modern histochemical and immunohistochemical examination methods. The Scientific research activities of the workplace are currently being conducted in cooperation with the Department of Theoretical and Industrial Electrical Engineering of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics of the Technical University in Košice.

The scientific research activities of the Workplace of Pathological Anatomy focuses on:

• the study of the activity of muscle myogenic stem cells and the microflora of poultry intestinal tract
• the use of a functional 3D model of the chicken intestine to study the effect of new Lactobacillus isolates during infection caused by the agents of significant zoonotic alimentary infections
• the impact of modulation of the intestinal microbiota on probiotic bacteria on the stimulation of myogenic stem cells activity in poultry
• biologically active substances of drone embryo to support metabolic processes and immune response in animals

The department also performs diagnostic autopsies and histopathological diagnostics for veterinary workplaces from all over Slovakia.

Projects

• APVV-20-0184 Composite biomaterials with complex natural additives. 2021 – 2024; principal investigator: Ľubomír Medvecký, Ing., PhD., responsible investigator of UVMP in Kosice Ján Danko, Prof., DVM, PhD.
• APVV-20-0073 Chorioallantoic membrane - in vivo model for study of biocompatibility of materials. 2021-2025; principal investigator: Eva Petrovová, Prof., DVM, PhD.
• VEGA 1/0336/20 Utilization of biocements in cartilage and hard tissue regeneration, 2020-2023; principal investigator: Veronika Šimaiová, DVM, PhD.
• KEGA 017UVLF-4/2022 2022 – 2024. Implementation of information and imaging technologies in the study of the locomotor system. 2022 – 2024; principal investigator: Katarína Vdoviaková, Assoc. Prof., DVM, PhD.
• VEGA 1/0107/21: Activity of muscle myogenic stem cells and modulation of microflora in intestinal tract of poultry, 2021-2023, principal investigator : Martin Levkut, Assoc. Prof., DVM, PhD
• VEGA 1/0098/22. Application of functional 3D model of chicken intestine on study of new lactobacillus isolates during infection by important zoonotic alimetary infections. 2022 – 2025,principal investigator: Viera Karaffová, DVM, PhD.
• APVV-21-0129. The impact  of modulated intestinal microbiota by probiotic bacteria on stimulation of myogenic stem cell activity, 2022-2025, principal investigator: Viera Karaffová, DVM, PhD.
• APVV-20-0099 Biological active substances of bee foetus on support of metabolic processess and immunity reactions in animals 2021-2024, principal investigator Martin Levkut, Assoc. Prof., PhD
• VEGA: 1/0014/21 Anomalies of intracranial venous drainage in dogs and their clinical significance, 2021-2023, principal investigator: Igor Šulla, DVM, PhD.
• KEGA 005UVLF-4/2021 Innovation of teaching embryology in veterinary medicine and implementation of new didactic tools, 2021-2023, principal investigator: Viera Almášiová, Assoc. Prof., DVM, PhD.
• VEGA 1 /0036/22 Study of the effect of Wi-Fi radiation on the development of tissues and organs of the chicken embryo, 2022-2025, principal investigator: Katarína Holovská, Assoc. prof., DVM, PhD.