Histochemistry analyses of the accessory gland of the male reproductive apparatus in three bee species with different levels of social organization

• Grant number: 10/05080-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2011
• End date: March 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Histology
• Principal Investigator: Fábio Camargo Abdalla
• Grantee: Douglas Nazareth Rivera
• Host Institution: Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Campus de Sorocaba. Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the solitary bees there is few studies about the histology, development, chemical nature and function of the accessory glands of the male reproductive apparatus. Additionaly, there is not accordance about this function in social and eusocial bees, especially in Apis mellifera. In this way, it is intended to study comparatively the morphology and histochemistry of the male accessory gland secretion of three species of bees: Xylocopa sp, Bombus sp and Melipona quadrifasciata to verify possible differences of the secretion among the species and to try associating them with distinctive aspects of the reproductive biology and social organization of the studied species. In this way, it is intended to study comparatively the morphology and histochemistry of the male accessory gland secretion of three species of bees: Xylocopa sp, Bombus sp and Melipona quadrifasciata to verify possible differences of the secretion among the especies and to try associating them with the reproductive biology and social organization distiction of the studied species. (AU)