Electron Microscopic Studies of the Adrenal Gland during Seasonal Cycle of Fruit Eating Bat Pteropus Giganteus giganteus

Abstract

The fine structure of the adrenal gland is testified in many mammals; whereas, very diminutive information is available on the fine structure of the bat’s adrenal gland. The present work is constrained to the ultrastructural studies of the adrenal gland of Pteropus giganteus giganteus. The adrenal gland of the male bat has two distinct perceptible zonations viz., cortex and medulla. The cortex is divided into three illustrious zones namely, zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata and zona reticularis. The differences in the zonation under the electron microscope becomes more acute when the studied bat is sexually active. Histoarchitectural study of the adrenal gland designate prominent structures and striking differences in the adrenocortical zone during the sexually active period than the sexually quiescent period. The zona fasciculata is well developed during the sexually active period than that of the sexually quiescent period. Likewise, zona fasciculata is well developed as compared to zona glomerulosa and zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex in both active and quiescent stages. Light microscopic studies on adrenal gland are confirmed by the ultrastructural studies.