Brain Morphophysiology of Africanized Bee Apis mellifera Exposed to Sublethal Doses of Imidacloprid

Autor(es)

Rossi, Caroline de Almeida ^[1] ; Roat, Thaisa Cristina ^[1] ; Tavares, Daiana Antonia ^[1] ; Cintra-Socolowski, Priscila ^[1] ; Malaspina, Osmar ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] UNESP Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Biol, Ctr Estudos Insetos Sociais, Inst Biociencias Rio Claro, BR-13500900 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; v. 65, n. 2, p. 234-243, AUG 2013.
• Citações Web of Science: 18

Resumo

Several synthetic substances are used in agricultural areas to combat insect pests; however, the indiscriminate use of these products may affect nontarget insects, such as bees. In Brazil, one of the most widely used insecticides is imidacloprid, which targets the nervous system of insects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of chronic exposure to sublethal doses of imidacloprid on the brain of the Africanized Apis mellifera. The organs of both control bees and bees exposed to insecticide were subjected to morphological, histochemical and immunocytochemical analysis after exposure to imidacloprid, respectively, for 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days. In mushroom bodies of bees exposed to imidacloprid concentrations of LD50/10 and in optic lobes of bees exposed to imidacloprid concentrations of LD50/10, LD50/100, and LD50/50, we observed the presence of condensed cells. The Feulgen reaction revealed the presence of some cells with pyknotic nuclei, whereas Xylidine Ponceau stain revealed strongly stained cells. These characteristics can indicate the occurrence of cell death. Furthermore, cells in mushroom bodies of bees exposed to imidacloprid concentrations of LD50/10 appeared to be swollen. Cell death was confirmed by immunocytochemical technique. Therefore, it was concluded that sublethal doses of imidacloprid have cytotoxic effects on exposed bee brains and that optic lobes are more sensitive to the insecticide than other regions of the brain. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 06/57122-7 - Procura de compostos líderes para o desenvolvimento racional de novos fármacos e pesticidas a partir bioprospecção da fauna de artrópodes brasileiros
• Beneficiário: Mario Sergio Palma
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa BIOTA - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 08/05018-7 - Efeitos toxicológicos do inseticida fipronil em operárias e rainhas de Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae): atividade neural e proteínas de desintoxicação
• Beneficiário: Thaisa Cristina Roat
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado