Authors:
B. V. Shabunin,
A. V. Nekrasov,
E. M. Stepanov,
E. V. Mikhaylov
All-Russian Scientific Research Veterinary Institute of Pathology, Pharmacology and Therapy, Voronezh, Russia
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Abstract. The purpose of the study was to study the state of the immune system organs in hypotrophic piglets in the early neonatal period in an industrial pig breeding complex. Methods. The experiment was conducted in 2023 in a large industrial pig farm in the Voronezh region on piglets of the wounded neonatal period received from sows 3-4 farrowing. The sows were kept at optimal microclimate parameters, taking into account their physiological state, and fed with SK-1 nutritionally balanced feed. At the initial stage of the experiment, the piglets obtained during farrowing underwent clinical examination and weighing. Animals under 800 g are counted as hypotrophic piglets (n = 30), animals over 800 g are normotrophic, respectively (n =30). After the groups were formed, animals were forced to be slaughtered before taking colostrum (n =5) and biological material was taken from each group (thymus, lymph nodes (inguinal), spleen for immunohistochemical studies. Results. The level of mitotic activity in the thymus of normotrophic piglets was 9.4 % higher (p < 0.05) than in piglets with body weight deficiency. In the spleen, the level of mitotic activity had no significant differences and was approximately the same in all animals participating in the experiment. In lymph nodes, the mitotic activity of cells in normotrophics was 12.7 % higher (p < 0.05). A study of positively expressed CD-3 cells in the spleen revealed significant differences, so, in normotrophic piglets, the number of cells positively stained with this marker was significantly higher than in piglets with a body weight deficiency by 10.2 % (p < 0.05). The number of CD-3 cells in the thymus differed by 5.6 %, and in the lymph nodes by 2.4 % between the groups, but there were no significant differences. The cellular expression of “immature” forms of B lymphocytes (PAX-5) in the lymph nodes of normotrophics was significantly higher by 12.9 % (p < 0.05) compared with hypotrophic piglets. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that for the first time a comprehensive immunohistochemical study of the organs of the immune system of piglets in the early neonatal period was carried out using monoclanal antibodies CD-3, Ki-67 and PAX-5. As a result of the experiment, it was revealed that piglets with body weight deficiency have a “depression” of the immune system, which manifests itself in hypoplasia of T-lymphocytes in the spleen, “maturing” B-lymphocytes in the lymph nodes and low mitotic potential in the thymus and lymph nodes.
Keywords: hypotrophic piglets, early neonatal period, organs of the immune system, innate immunity, immunohistochemistry
Acknowledgements. The research was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation No. 23-26-00020.
For citation: Shabunin B. V., Nekrasov A. V., Stepanov E. M., Mikhaylov E. V. Morphofunctional state of the immune system organs in hypotrophic piglets in the early neonatal period. Agrarian Bulletin of the Urals. 2024; 24 (07): 932‒943. https://doi.org/10.32417/1997-4868-2024-24-06-932-943. (In Russ.)
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