ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Morphometric and histochemical features of the harderian gland in rabbits with different types of autonomous regulation 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. https://macvetrev.mk 2022-10-15 157 168 10.2478/macvetrev-2022-0024 Harderian gland rabbits tubular alveoli morphometry autonomous regulation Аndrii Tybinka a.m.tybinka@gmail.com false 1 Department of Normal and Pathological Morphology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Stepan Gzhytskyi National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies Lviv, 50 Pekarska St., 79010 Lviv, Ukraine LEAD_AUTHOR Marta Zakrevska false 2 Doctor Markevych’s Veterinary Clinic, 2a Lysenytska Str., 79032 Lviv, Ukraine AUTHOR Olga Shchebentovska false 3 Department of Normal and Pathological Morphology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Stepan Gzhytskyi National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies Lviv, 50 Pekarska St., 79010 Lviv, Ukraine AUTHOR Dunn, D.G., Baker, J., Sorden, S.D. (2018). Eye and associated glands. In A.W. Suttie (Ed.) Boorman’s Pathology of the Rat. (Second Edition). 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