FUNCTIONAL STATUS AND TISSUE ORGANIZATION OF THE SPLEEN IN HEALTHY RABBITS DURING THE THREE-MONTH DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE

The experimental study presents a morphological and histochemical evaluation of the spleen structure in intact 3-month-old rabbits under physiological conditions. The structural organization of the white and red pulp, the condition of lymphoid nodules, reactive (germinal) centers, mantle and marginal zones, as well as elements of the vascular bed, were analyzed. The study was performed using light microscopy with hematoxylin–eosin and alcian blue staining, which allowed assessment of the general histoarchitectonics of the spleen and the distribution of acidic mucopolysaccharides within its tissue components. It was established that the spleen of intact rabbits is characterized by a clear differentiation of white and red pulp, well-formed lymphoid nodules with pronounced reactive centers, and a preserved organization of functional zones. Alcian-positive structures are predominantly localized in the elements of the red pulp and the walls of sinusoids, whereas their presence in lymphoid nodules is minimal.