Abstract
Introduction. Hemocytes of bees perform many functions. Cellular immunity is one of the most important among them. This part of the immune system provides wound healing, protection against parasites and pathogens. Research of hemocytes composition is important for the study of the cellular component of bee immunity under the influence of biotic and abiotic factors.Aim. The aim of our research was to study the hemocytes composition of worker bees Apis mellifera L. The experiment was performed during the autumn-winter period on worker honey bees.Methods. Insects were selected from the colonies zoned in Chernivtsi region. Then hemolymph was selected, smears were made, fixed and stained, and microscopy was performed. Longitudinal and transverse diameters were measured in the identified hemolymph cells and their nuclei.Results. The detected prohemocytes are the cells of the smallest size, of round or oval shape, with a compact nucleus stained in dark purple. The cytoplasm surrounds the nucleus with a thin layer. Longitudinal and transverse diameters of prohemocyte nuclei are 5.41 ± 0.12 and 4.99 ± 0.10 μm. Some of the detected plasmatocytes are oval-shaped, others are spindle-shaped. The nuclei of plasma cells, located mainly in the center of the cells, are stained in dark pink or pink-purple. Chromatin is condensed in the form of grains. The cytoplasm is transparent. It contains light pink or light purple small granules, sometimes it contains vacuoles. The average values of the longitudinal and transverse diameters of oval plasmatocytes are 12.02 ± 0.15 and 7.03 ± 0.12 μm and for their nuclei they are 7.64 ± 0.13 and 4.09 ± 0.11 μm. The average values of the longitudinal and transverse diameters of spindle-shaped plasmatocytes are 15.30 ± 0.21; 5.21 ± 0.16 μm, and for their nuclei they are 8.42 ± 0.08; 4.26 ± 0.07. The granulocytes have a large round or oval pink-purple nucleus. The dimensions of the nucleus vary considerably: the longitudinal diameter is from 10.85 to 19.85 μm, and the transverse diameter is from 8.24 to 19.63 μm. Longitudinal and transverse diameters of the 1st type permeabilized cells nuclei are 7.64 ± 0.26 мкм and 6.75 ± 0.24 μm, permeabilized cells of the 2nd type have an amoeboid shape with the longitudinal and transverse nucleus diameters 7.31 ± 0.21 and 6.56 ± 0.23 μm. Transitional form of cells are morphologically different from differentiated cells.Conclusion. Prohemocytes, oval and spindle-shaped plasmatocytes, granulocytes, permeabilized cells and transitional cell forms were detected in hemolymph of worker honey bees during the autumn-winter period. Key words: Apis mellifera; hemocytes; morphometric characteristic
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