BIOCHEMICAL, IMMUNOLOGICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE LIVER AND LARGE INTESTINE OF RATS AFTER INOCULATION OF DNA/RNA VIRUSES

Background. A characteristic feature of tumor diseases associated with viruses is a long latent period lasting several years. Objective. To monitor biochemical, immunological and morphological changes in the liver and large intestine after inoculation of Wistar rats with DNA/RNA viruses. Material and methods. The goal was realized on 52 adult male Wistar rats (average initial weight 210.1±14.9 g), on a standard diet and free access to food and water, by inoculating the abdominal cavity with DNA/RNA viruses. The monitoring of biochemical, immunological and morphological parameters reflecting the condition of the liver and large intestine was carried out 30, 112 and 224 days after the introduction of the genetic material of the viruses. Results. The monitoring of laboratory and morphological parameters after inoculation of DNA/RNA viruses into the animals showed that within 30-224 days there occur noticeable changes in biochemical, immunological and morphological parameters characterizing the processes of apoptosis acceleration and cell cycle disruption in the liver and large intestine. Biochemical markers of damage to the liver and large intestine after inoculation of animals with DNA/RNA are the values of AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, urea, creatinine, bilirubin, albumin, cholesterol as well as those of microelements – magnesium, phosphorus, iron, calcium (p<0,05). A dependence was established between the change in the concentration of antibodies to cell cycle proteins (bcl-2, p53, pRb1, NF1) and the duration of exposure to viral DNA/RNA. Morphological signs of liver damage due to inoculation of DNA/RNA viruses are: the presence of neutrophils and eosinophils in the sinusoids, protein granular degeneration and polymorphism of hepatocyte nuclei; in the intestinal tissue - infiltration with plasma cells, eosinophils and lymphocytes with the presence of multiple lymphoid follicles at various levels of the lamina propria and muscular plate with lymphoid hyperplasia, eosinophilic accumulations without degranulation with penetration into the surface epithelium and into the muscular lamina of the mucosa (eosinophilic colitis). Conclusion. Significant changes in liver tissue and intestinal tissue occur when DNA of EBV, CMV, HSV type 1/2 and HBV is introduced into the animal body. Probable signs of pre-oncogenic transformation are: the presence of infiltrating neutrophils in the sinusoids of the liver and that of lymphoid hyperplasia in the wall of the large intestine.