Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in the interrenal gland and the ovary of stork-billed kingfisher, Pelargopsis capensis (Linn.): a histochemical study

Abstract

The distribution of delta5 3beta-hydroxüsteroid dehydrogenase (delta5 3beta-HSDH), 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSDH), Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) and NADH-diaphorase enzymes has been histochemically studied in the interrenal gland and the ovary of the stork-billed kingfisher, Pelargopsis capensis (Linn.). In the interrenal gland, the activity for all the enzymes studied, occurred in the interrenal cells. All these enzyme activities occurred in the theca interna of normal growing follicles, atretic follicles and interstitial gland cells of the ovary. A weak activity for all the enzymes occurred in the hypertrophied granulosa cells of the atretic follicles. The significance of these findings is discussed.