AGE DYNAMICS OF THE BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF MALES AND FEMALES OF CROSSBREEDS OBTAINED BY CROSSING SNOW AND RED FOXES (VULPES VULPESLINNAEUS, 1758)

The dynamics of biochemical parameters in the process of animal ontogenesis can change under the influence of a number of factors, such as gender and age. The present study is aimed at studying the effect of these factors on the biochemical profile in hybrid snow-red foxes (n= 20) aged 1.5 and 6 months, obtained as a result of crossing male snow-colored foxes with female red foxes of the Ognevka Vyatskaya color type. The work was carried out on the basis of LLC “Animal breeding farm "Vyatka” (Kirov region). Immediately after deposition (at the age of 1.5 months) a significant effect of sex (p< 0.05) on the activity of enzymes (ALT, AsAT, ALP), levels of nitrogenous compounds (urea, creatinine), indicators of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (α-amylase, cholesterol) was revealed. Age-related changes in the biochemical profile demonstrate a decrease in the activity of liver enzymes (ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase) and an increase in the levels of urea and creatinine in males, as well as an increase in the levels of total protein, albumin, and cholesterol. Also at this age, significant sex differences in lipid peroxidation (MDA, CP, catalase) were recorded, reflecting the intensity of metabolism. By the age of 6 months, the antioxidant system is stabilized, as there is a decrease in MDA, an increase in CP and catalase. The Gender factor influenced 8 of the 12 biochemical parameters studied. At the age of 1.5 to 6 months, a significant influence of the "Age" factor on all 12 studied indicators was established. The analysis of variance also revealed the combined effect of gender and age, which proved to be significant for 10 of the 12 indicators. The results obtained demonstrate a significant influence of gender and age on biochemical processes in hybrid snow-red foxes in the early postnatal period, which is important for understanding the biochemical characteristics of foxes at different stages of ontogenesis. The WG gene, exerting a pleiotropic effect on various aspects of metabolism, leads to the fact that offspring carrying this gene demonstrate a more intensive cellular metabolism in the early ontogenetic period compared with red fox puppies without this gene, which is expressed in increased values of ALT, AST and alkaline phosphatase, an altered balance of macronutrient metabolism with an emphasis on protein-fat metabolism confirmed by differences in alpha-amylase, cholesterol, urea, and creatinine levels. Thus, even under identical environmental conditions, the observed differences in the biochemical profile between mother and offspring can be explained by genetic inheritance: the WG gene responsible for snow color, by its pleiotropy, is able to influence the expression of many genes related to metabolism. This leads to characteristic age-related changes in the biochemical profile of males and females of crossbreeds obtained by crossing snow and red foxes.