Caste-specific development of the dopaminergic system in bumble bees (Bombus ignitus)

Abstract

The dopaminergic system is involved in caste-specific behaviors in eusocial bumble bees. However, little is known about how the caste differences in dopaminergic system are formed during pupal stages in the brains of bumble bees. Thus, we investigated the levels of dopamine-related substances and expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in dopamine synthesis and metabolism, dopamine receptors, and a dopamine transporter in the brain of female Bombus ignitus. The levels of dopamine and dopamine-related substances in the brain were significantly higher in gynes than in workers from the late pupal stage to emergence, but the dynamics were similar between the castes. The relative expression levels of genes encoding enzymes involved in dopamine synthesis (BigTh and BigDdc) and dopamine metabolism (BigNat) increased significantly from pupal stage to emergence, but there were no differences in the relative expression levels of these genes between castes. A similar pattern was seen in the relative expression levels of four dopamine receptor genes (BigDop1, BigDop2, BigDop3, and BigDopEcR) and a dopamine transporter gene (BigDat). Compared with the honey bee Apis mellifera, the caste-specific dopaminergic system in the bumble bee is less differentiated, which might reflect the degree of behavioral specialization in these two species.