SPLENIC FUNCTIONS DURING GESTATION IN TAPHOZOUS MELAWOPOGON MELAWOPOGON TEMMNICK (MICROCHIROPTERA : MAMMALIA)

The emballonurid bat T. m. melanopogon exhibits a unique absolute dextral dominance of female genitalia and protracted gestation period of nearly six months. Spleen morphology gravimetry, histology, and histochemistry of nulliparous and parous bats exhibited significant differences. Nulliparous bats diplayed enlarged spleen and greater weight vis-a-vis spleen of parous forms in which it was smaller. The reticuloendothelial system of spleen of parous bats was hypertrophied and manifested extensively developed red pulp and stacking erythrocytes. Nulliparous bats had attenuated white and red pulp and diffused germinal centers.