ANALYSIS OF LEUKOCYTE BLOOD FORMULA IN RATS UNDER STRESS MODELING AND THERAPEUTIC AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Abstract

Chronic stress remains one of the most pressing issues in modern biology and medicine due to its capacity to negatively affect both the immune and endocrine systems, particularly by inducing changes in the blood leukocyte formula and leading to immunosuppression and inflammatory responses. Consequently, the development and implementation of effective therapeutic and prophylactic complexes are of paramount importance for correcting stress-induced disorders. Aim of the study. To determine the effect of a therapeutic drug complex on the blood leukocyte formula in rats subjected to prolonged acoustic stress. Materials and methods. The study included 27 male Wistar rats (2 months old), divided into three groups (9 animals in each): an intact group (Group 1), a group exposed to acoustic stress (Group 2), and a group with acoustic stress plus additional administration of a therapeutic-prophylactic complex (Group 3). The experiment lasted for 49 days. Stress was modeled using an ultrasonic repeller (30–65 kHz), operated 6 hours daily, with the combined addition of sound in the audible range. Animals in Group 3 received the therapeuticprophylactic agents orally. Blood was collected from the tail vein to determine total leukocyte counts and the percentage of various leukocyte subtypes (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils). Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t-test (p<0.01). Results. In the chronic acoustic stress group, there was a notable increase in band neutrophils (by 45.2 %) and segmented neutrophils (by 34.5 %), accompanied by a reduction in lymphocyte levels by 19.2% and eosinophil levels by 44.3%, compared to intact rats. Administration of the therapeutic-prophylactic complex helped normalize the leukocyte formula, bringing it closer to the parameters observed in intact animals. Conclusions. The findings indicate a significant stress effect of combined sound exposure (ultrasonic plus audible range) on the immune system in rats and confirm the efficacy of the therapeuticprophylactic complex in correcting stress-induced alterations in blood leukocyte composition. These results provide a promising basis for the development of modern strategies for the prevention and treatment of chronic stress and its adverse consequences.