Abstract
Oenocytes of adult workers and queens of Apis mellifera L. were studied in different ages or life stages, by means of morphometric and histologic techniques. In workers, the oenocytes were found in the head, near the mandibles and in the abdomen, immersed in the parietal fat body mainly below the sterna, close to the wax gland. In queens, two populations of oenocytes different in size and localization were found within the parietal and visceral fat body, respectively. The oenocytes of workers and queens show the presence of acid lipids and acid phosphatase. The role of these cells in the castes differences is discussed.
oenocytes; Apis mellifera; morphology; development; castes differences; fat body
Morphologic and morphometric aspects of oenocytes of Apis mellifera queens and workers in different phases of life
Maria Claudia Colla Ruvolo1
Carminda da Cruz Landim2
Universidade de São Carlos, Departamento de Genética e Evolução, São Carlos, Brasil
UNESP, Instituto de Biociências de Rio Claro, Departamento de Biologia, Rio Claro, Brasil
Oenocytes of adult workers and queens of Apis mellifera L. were studied in different ages or life stages, by means of morphometric and histologic techniques. In workers, the oenocytes were found in the head, near the mandibles and in the abdomen, immersed in the parietal fat body mainly below the sterna, close to the wax gland. In queens, two populations of oenocytes different in size and localization were found within the parietal and visceral fat body, respectively. The oenocytes of workers and queens show the presence of acid lipids and acid phosphatase. The role of these cells in the castes differences is discussed.
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Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
01 June 2009 -
Date of issue
Sept 1993
