GLYCOGEN ACCUMULATION IN THE OVARIAN FOLLICLE OF INDIAN VESPERTILIONID BAT, SCOTOPHILUS-HEATHI DURING THE PERIOD OF DELAYED OVULATION

Massive accumulation of glycogen in the follicles of Scotophilus heath i during the period of delayed ovulation was noticed. The follicles wh ich survive for prolonged periods are morphologically specialized. The accumulation of glycogen was noticed in the granulosa cells. The egg cytoplasm, thecal cells and interstitial cells were almost devoid of g lycogen. The first sign of a glycogen deposit in the ovary was noticed during the recrudescence phase (October) in late pre-antral follicles . Most of the morphologically healthy late pre-antral and antral folli cles showed a positive reaction with PAS and Best carmine from October to early February. Morphologically atretic follicles showed only a mi ld glycogen accumulation. Little or no glycogen accumulation was notic ed in some of the healthy late-antral follicles before ovulation durin g late February and early March. HCG-induced antral follicles during q uiescence also did not show any accumulation of glycogen. The study su ggests that glycogen laden follicles are not suitable for ovulation an d may be the reason for the occurrence of delayed ovulation in S. heat hi.