HISTOLOGICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL-STUDIES OF THE POSTOVULATORY FOLLICLESDURING THE ANNUAL REPRODUCTIVE-CYCLE INCLUDING NESTING CYCLE OF A WILD AVIAN SPECIES, THE PIED MYNA, STURNUS-CONTRA-CONTRA L

The post-ovulatory follicles were studied during the annual reproducti ve cycle and nesting cycle of the pied myna, Sturnus contra contra. Th ese follicles were observed during the breeding phase (May) of the rep roductive cycle. Histologically, they were found to regress in 4 stage s. Stages I and II were found in the egg-laying period, whereas Stages III and IV were observed in the incubation period of the nesting cycl e. The follicles were drastically reduced in the nestling period. 3 be ta-HSDH activity, present in both granulosa and theca interna of the f ollicles, was intense during the initial regression Stage (I) and decr eased subsequently (Stages II, III and IV). On the other hand, sudanop hilic lipid reaction, localized in both layers of the follicles, was w eak in Stage I but increased in subsequent Stages (II, III and IV). Th e findings are briefly discussed.