Original Scientific Article
Morphometric and histochemical features of the Harderian gland in rabbits with different types of autonomous regulation
Аndrii Tybinka * ,
Marta Zakrevska ,
Olga Shchebentovska

Mac Vet Rev 2022; 45 (2): 157 - 168

10.2478/macvetrev-2022-0024

Received: 28 January 2022

Received in revised form: 11 May 2022

Accepted: 05 August 2022

Available Online First: 31 August 2022

Published on: 15 October 2022

Correspondence: Аndrii Tybinka, a.m.tybinka@gmail.com
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Abstract

The tonus of autonomous centers reflected in the morpho-functional features of the organs in mammals. The study aimed to establish the influence of the autonomous regulation and its’ typological peculiarities on the structural features of the rabbits’ Harderian gland. Clinically healthy male rabbits, four months old, weighing 3.6-3.9 kg, were selected for the research. Based on the study of heart rate variability, three types of autonomous regulation were outlined, according to which three groups of rabbits were formed: ST rabbits (sympathetic dominant regulation), PS rabbits (parasympathetic dominant regulation), and NT rabbits (combined sympathetic and parasympathetic regulation). After euthanasia, the Harderian gland was dissected in all animals. Histological specimens were prepared and a morphometric examination was performed. ST rabbits corresponded to the minimal indicators in the tubular alveoli in both parts of the gland, as well as the maximum indicators of capsule thickness. NT rabbits corresponded to the maximum values of the acini area in the pink lobe, and in the white lobe - the maximal values of the cross-sectional area of the tubular alveoli, its wall area, and the epithelium height. The maximum acini area corresponded to PS rabbits in the white lobe, and in the pink lobe - the maximum indicators of the tubular alveoli cross-sectional area, and epithelial height. The pink and white lobes’ structure of the rabbit’s Harderian gland was affected by the combined tonus of the sympathetic and parasympathetic centers. The findings elucidate the regulatory and trophic effects on the Harderian gland in rabbits.

Keywords: Harderian gland, rabbits, tubular alveoli, morphometry, autonomous regulation


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Copyright

© 2022 Tybinka A. This is an open-access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Citation Information

Macedonian Veterinary Review. Volume 45, Issue 2, Pages 157-168, e-ISSN 1857-7415, p-ISSN 1409-7621, DOI: 10.2478/macvetrev-2022-0024, 2022