Abstract
The secretions from the spermathecal glands in honeybee queens contribute to maintaining the viability of spermatozoa stored in the spermatheca. This viability is reduced as the queen ages. Here, we investigated whether DNA content changes and chromatin remodeling, that could suggest changes in cellular functions, occur in the spermathecal glands of Apis mellifera queens with aging. Feulgen-stained glands from early-mated and old queens were studied by image analysis. Increased polyploidization, heterogeneously distributed chromatin coarseness, and no cell death signs were verified in the spermathecal glands of aged queens. These results, compared with published data for other cellular systems, are suggestive of alterations in the spermathecal gland cells upon aging, possibly affecting their secretory fluid production. In consequence, sperm cell protection in the spermatheca would be less effective.
Highlights
Soon after a honeybee queen is either naturally or artificially inseminated, the spermatozoa introduced in her reproductive system migrate to the spermatheca, where they can potentially be stored over along the queen’s entire lifespan (Verma 1974; Al-Lawati et al 2009)
The objective of this work was to detect changes in the amounts of Feulgen-stained DNA and in chromatin supraorganization in the spermathecal glands of Apis mellifera queens as they aged, in an effort to understand the decrease in their cell functionality and to support the idea that, due to aging, the protection provided to the sperm in the spermatheca by the secretory fluid produced by the spermathecal glands is reduced
Neither morphological aspects nor changes in the Feulgen-DNA values that suggest cell death were found in the secretory cells of the spermathecal glands of the honeybee queens up to 1.5 years in age
Summary
Soon after a honeybee queen is either naturally or artificially inseminated, the spermatozoa introduced in her reproductive system migrate to the spermatheca, where they can potentially be stored over along the queen’s entire lifespan (Verma 1974; Al-Lawati et al 2009). The spermathecal glands are a pair of long and convoluted structures, consisting of a single secretory epithelium and an intima layer, and are located over the latero-anterior surface of the spermatheca. These glands unite into a common duct, which opens on the antero-ventral midline of the organ (Camargo and Mello 1970). Secretions from the queen’s spermathecal glands provide an important beneficial function for the stored spermatozoa, facilitating their survival (den Boer et al 2009), the viability of these cells is affected as the queens age (Al-Lawati et al 2009). It is known that mated queens tend to lay an increased number of unfertilized eggs as they age (Szabo and Heikel 1987), which could be due to the decreasing quality of the stored spermatozoa caused by their inadequate preservation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
