The effect of polychlorinated biphenyls on some parameters of non-specific immunity in Ovis musimon and postpartum changes of enzyme activity in the glandular cells of the uterine endometrium

The study was focused on the observation of alkaline and acidic phosphatase activity in the glandular cells of the uterine endometrium in puerperal moufflon ewes (Ovis musimon) after exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls. Fifteen animals divided into 2 groups (experimental group – n=8; control group – n=7) were included in the experiment. The immunotoxic effect was evaluated by the test of the ingestion ability of phagocytes (phagocytic activity and index of phagocytic activity) and blastogenic response of lymphocytes after mitogen stimulation. For thirty days moufflons in the experimental group were given per orally capsules of domestically made Delor 105 chemical preparation (100 μg/kg) containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). The blood samples were taken on day 17 postpartum, i. e. 5 days from the termination of a 30-day PCB application; on day 25 postpartum, i.e. 17 days from the last application of PCB and on day 34 postpartum which was equivalent to day 28 from the termination of the application. The samples of endometrium were collected from the uterine horn by Palmer ́s laparoscope on day 17, day 25 and on day 34 postpartum under general anaesthesia (Diprivan 1%, propofol) given i.v. When evaluating alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in the glandular cells of the endometrium in the control group, a statistically significant increase (P<0.01) was observed on day 25 (P<0.001) and on day 34 compared to day 17 postpartum. Acidic phosphatase activity in the glandular cells of the ewes’ endometrium showed a statistically significant increase between day 17 and day 25 as well as day 17 and day 34 postpartum (P<0.001). No statistically significant differences in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity during the post-partum period were observed (P>0.05) in the experimental group. Acidic phosphatase density in the experimental group of ewes also showed no statistically marked change (P>0.05) at the observed intervals postpartum. Compared to control groups, all investigated functional activities of phagocytes (phagocytic activity