Pituitary Colloid in Indian Mouse-Tailed Bat, Rhinopoma hardwickei hardwickei (Gray) in Relation to Reproductive Cycle

Follicular colloids were examined in pituitary gland of Indian bat, Rhinopoma hardwickei hardwickei during annual reproductive cycle. Colloids were distributed throughout the pars distalis, pars intermedia and pars tuberalis. The colloid droplets were round or oval in shape. In some colloids outer border was irregular. These droplets were of various sizes and many of them were vacuolated. Pituitary colloids were observed during the different stages of the reproductive cycle. No change in number, size and shape was observed during anestrus, oestrus, and early pregnancy. At mid- and late pregnancy the number and size of colloid droplets increased. The increasing trend in number and size of colloid droplets was continued during early lactation also. At late lactation, colloid masses showed decrease in number and size. More colloid masses were observed in male pituitary than those observed in the female pituitary.