3.SEASONAL CHANGES IN THE ADRENAL GLAND OF THE INDIAN MALE FRUIT BAT PTEROPUS GIGANTEUS GIGANTEUS (BRUNNICH) DURING THE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE By 1 J. N. PAPADKAR AND 2 A.A.DHAMANI

Abstract

The present study shows the cyclical alternation in the activity of adrenal gland of the male bat Pteropus
giganteus giganteus during different phases of reproductive cycle. The adrenal gland of Ptreropus is made up of the steroidogenic and chromaffin cells as in cortex and medulla respectively. The Indian fruit bat P.
giganteus giganteus species has a sharply defined breeding season. This species experiences a single reproductice cycle. Adrenal glands of sexually active bats are significantly larger than that of other phases of reproductice cycle. The cortex is outermost zone completely encircles the central medulla . The medulla consists of polymorphic epitheloid cells arranged in small groups or short cords surrounded by blood capillaries. The zona glomerulosa consists of columns of cells with darkly stained nuclei each with a nucleolus. The Zona glomerulosa imperceptibly merges with zona fasciculata, which occurs in the form of cords of polyhedral cells which are large and vacuolated & are arranged radially. Each cord is only one or two-cell thick with sinusoidal capillaries separating them. The zona reticularis consists of a network of cellular cords. The nuclei of some cells are pycnotic, and contain a deposite of pigment. The cells are hypertrophied, cytoplasm is eosinophilic with darkly stained nucleus and more vacuolated.
KEY WORD: Adrenal gland, Bat.