Ovariole structure and oogenesis in queens and workers of the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponini) kept under different social conditions

Autor(es)

Tanaka, Erica Donato ^[1] ; Santana, Weyder Cristiano ^[1] ; Hartfelder, Klaus ^[2]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Biol, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Pret, BR-05508 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Biol Celular & Mol & Bioagentes Patogen, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, BR-05508 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Apidologie; v. 40, n. 2, p. 163-177, 2009.
• Citações Web of Science: 5

Resumo

The high variability in the reproductive biology of stingless bees makes them very amenable for comparative studies with other eusocial bee taxa. We investigated the structural organization of the ovaries of Melipona quadrifasciata queens and workers kept under different social conditions by analyzing their general histology, mitotic activity, and microfilament organization. The overall dynamics of ovarian activity were similar in the two castes, and at emergence their ovarioles contained a previtellogenic follicle. Stingless bees and honey bees differ in the structural organization in the lower germarium, but they have in common synchronized mitotic activity and putative germ line stem cells in the terminal filament. Unlike honey bees, stingless bee workers lay trophic eggs in addition to reproductive eggs. The overall similarities in oogenesis between the two taxa suggest that the decision to form trophic eggs should only occur in the late stages of oogenesis. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 02/11729-7 - Sequenciamento e expressão do gene vasa em Apis mellifera: um marcador da linhagem germinativa e o estudo comparado da ovogênese em Melipona quadrifasciata
• Beneficiário: Erica Donato Tanaka
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 99/00719-6 - Abelhas africanizadas: análise integrada do processo de africanização de Apis mellifera com foco sobre determinantes da fertilidade de zangões, rainhas e operárias
• Beneficiário: Zilá Luz Paulino Simões
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático