I. M. Petrova, M. V. Bytov, S. L. Khatsko, O. V. Sokolova, L. I. Drozdova, I. A. Shkuratova
Ural Federal Agrarian Scientific Research Center of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia
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Volume 26 No. 2
Date of paper submission: 20.11.2025, date of review: 01.12.2025, date of acceptance: 22.12.2025.
Published: 02/28/2026
Abstract. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between the expression of HO-1 and XDH antioxidant defense enzymes in the liver and its morphological changes in pigs of different age groups. Methods. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to assess the overall morphological picture and describe the changes. Mallory staining was used to identify excessive connective tissue proliferation. Immunohistochemical staining of samples with antibodies to HO-1 and XDH was performed to determine the correlation between the expression of HO-1 and XDH antioxidant defense enzymes. The scientific novelty of this study lies in the use of a combination of histochemical methods to study the relationship between destructive processes in the organs of farm animals and the expression of antioxidant defense enzymes. Results. The article presents the data of morphological analysis and immunohistochemical staining for detection of HO-1 and XDH in the liver of sows (3–4 years old (n = 3)) and piglets of different age groups (1–2 months (n = 3), 3 months (n = 6), 4.5–5 months (n = 4)). The study revealed a correlation between the development of destructive and compensatory processes in the liver and the expression of antioxidant defense enzymes. For piglets, either minor abnormalities in the morphology of the organ were noted, or abnormalities accompanied by compensatory mechanisms were revealed. For sows, a number of significant abnormalities were expressed, accompanied by active expression of HO-1 in liver mononuclear macrophages, probably playing a compensatory role. A comparative analysis of XDH expression in the liver revealed that for 3-month-old piglets, it was increased, which was probably associated with dystrophic processes. The mechanisms and triggers of XDH to XOR conversion in farm animals remain to be studied.
Keywords: heme oxygenase (HO-1), xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH), hepatocyte, liver, pig
Acknowledgements. The study was carried out with funds from the Russian Science Foundation grant No. 23-16- 00117 “Spatial characteristics of transcriptomic and metabolomic features of premature structural and functional degeneration of tissues of organs of farm animals and poultry”, https://rscf.ru/project/23-16-00117
For citation: Petrova I. M., Bytov M. V., Khatsko S. L., Sokolova O. V., Drozdova L. I., Shkuratova I. A. Morphological changes in the liver of piglets and sows and their correlation with the expression of antioxidant enzymes content. Agrarian Bulletin of the Urals. 2026; 26 (02): 318‒328. https://doi.org/10.32417/1997-4868-2026-26-02-318-328 (In Russ.)
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