Ovarian dehydrogenases of the non-pregnant, pregnant and lactating Rhinopoma microphyllum kinneari (Chiroptera: Rhinopomatidae)

Rhinopoma microphyllum kinneari is an insectivorous microchiropteran, breeding once in a year. Histochemical localisation of two dehydrogenases viz., succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and lactate de hyd ro ge na se (LDH), was achieved in the ovaries of bats obtained during non-pregnant, pregnant and lacta ting stages. Differential enzyme activities in different structures of the ovaries were visually evaluated. Reproductive stage specific changes in the profiles of the enzymes were observed. In the non-pregnant bats, both SDH and LDH showed high staining profile in the ovaries of the two sides. In the pregnant bats, the ovary bearing the corpus luteum had moderate SDH and LDH reaction while the non-ovulating ovary had lower SDH and LDH staining reaction. In the contralateral ovaries of the lactating bats, both the SDH and LDH profiles were very low. Succinate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, ovary, corpus luteum, Rhinopoma