Analysis of parameters characterizing argyrophilic zones in intact lymphocytes of domestic sheep (Ovis aries L., 1758) and their hybrids with argali (Ovis ammon L., 1758)

Abstract

Relevance and research material. The study of the characteristics of the nucleolus in cells of various tissues allows us to assess the intensity of the processes of protein proliferation and biosynthesis in animals. In interphase cells, the nucleoli correspond to argyrophilic zones (AgNOR) stained with silver nitric acid. The purpose of this study is to determine the characteristics of AgNOR in sheep interphase lymphocytes of different genotypes based on computer analysis and to select parameters for functional evaluation of nucleoli. AgNOR status was studied in peripheral blood lymphocytes from hybrid sheep four genotypes: purebred Romanov sheep, and their F1 hybrids with argali (groups 1 and 2), hybrids, bearing 3/4 of Romanov sheep blood and 1/4 blood argali (group 3), and hybrids that had 7/8 of domestic sheep and 1/8 blood argali (group 4). The number of argyrophilic zones (AgNOR), their total area (SSNOR), their average color density (DNOR), and the average color density of the core (DN) and its AgNOR-free area (DF) were taken into account.Results. Image processing and analysis were performed using the Image Scope 1.0 program. The average AgNOR value in the studied groups of sheep ranges from 2.64 (group 1) to 3.50 in hybrids in groups 2 and 3. There were no significant differences in the value of SSNOR between the groups. In terms of DN and DF, all hybrids were significantly inferior to purebred sheep (р < 0.001). In terms of DNOR, the sheep of group 2 were significantly inferior to the animals of the other groups (р < 0.001). When evaluating the state of the nucleolus-forming system, it is advisable to take into account the AgNOR number, as well as the average optical densities DN and DF.