Histomorphological and histochemical structure of the midgut and hindgut of the Caucasian honey bee (Apis mellifera caucasia)

The Caucasian honey bee (Apis mellifera caucasia subspecies of Apis mellifera L.) is one of the most common and prominenthoney bee breeds in Turkey. The morphometry of endemic honey bee breeds has been extensively studied, but little attention has beengiven to the microscopic morphology of these bees. The aim of the current study was to describe for the first time the histomorphologyof the midgut and hindgut of the Caucasian honey bee in Turkey. A total of 20 local Caucasian adult honey bee workers were sampled forhistomorphological and histochemical analysis. The midgut epithelium consisted of epithelial cells with different morphologies. Acidic,neutral, and mixed mucosubstances were found in the luminal surfaces of the cells and peritrophic membranes. The ileum mostlyconsisted of an epithelium containing columnar cells that usually had basal nuclei. The rectum of adult workers had a single-layeredepithelium externally, involving a layer of inner circular and outer longitudinal muscles. There were 6 long hollow rectal pads in themedian-anterior area of the rectum. These results contribute in detail to our understanding of the histomorphology of the Caucasian(A. m. caucasia) honey bee.

PDF

___

1. Özçağıran R. Pollination process and pollen vectors in flowering plants. Ege Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi 2002; 39 (2): 151-158 (in Turkish with an abstract in English).
2. Özbek H. Bees and pollination problem in Turkey. Uludağ Arıcılık Dergisi 2003; 16 (3): 41-44 (in Turkish with an abstract in English).
3. Kuvancı A. The effect of honey bees on pollination. Journal of Apiculture Research 2009; 5 (2): 12-15 (in Turkish with an abstract in English).
4. Silva-Zacarin ECM, Chauzat MP, Zeggane S, Drajnudel P, Schurr F et al. Protocol for optimization of histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses of larval tissues: application in histopathology of honey bee. Current Microscopy Contributions to Advances in Science and Technology 2012; 24 (3): 696-703.
5. Steen JJMVD, Kraker JD, Grotenhuis JTC. Assessment of the potential of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in biomonitoring of air pollution by cadmium, lead and vanadium. Journal of Environmental Protection 2015; 6 (2): 96-102. doi: 10.4236/ jep.2015.62011
6. Ruttner F. Naturgeschichte der Honigbienen. München, Germany: Ehrenwirth; 1992 (in German).
7. Güler A, Toy H. Morphological characteristics of the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) of the Sinop Türkeli region. Journal of Agricultural Faculty of Ondokuz Mayıs University 2008; 23 (3): 190-197 (in Turkish with an abstract in English).
8. Lebrun D. Structures digestives et régimes alimentaires des termites. Actes Collection Insectes Sociaux 1985; 19 (2): 43-44 (in French).
9. Santos CG, Serrão JE. Histology of the ileum in bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea). Brazilian Journal of Morphological Sciences 2006; (23): 405-413.
10. Gajger I, Kozaric Z, Berta D, Nejedli S, Petrinec Z. Effect of the herbal preparation Nozevict on the mid-gut structure of honeybees (Apis melífera) infected with Nosema sp. spores. Veterinarni Medicina 2011; 56 (1): 344-351.
11. Szymaś B, Łangowska A, Kazimierczak-Baryczko M. Histological structure of the midgut of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) fed pollen substitutes fortified with probiotics. Journal of Apicultural Science 2012; 56 (3): 5-12. doi: 10.2478/ v10289-012-0001-2
12. Bielenin I, Ibek Z. Influence of sodium fluoride on midgut epithelium of honey bee, Apis mellifera L. Zeszyty Naukowe AR Kraków 1980; 159 (20): 49-67.
13. Gregorc A, Bowen ID. Histochemical characterization of cell death in honeybee larvae midgut after treatment with Paenibacillus larvae, amitraz and oxytetracycline. Cell Biology International 2000; 24 (5): 319-324. doi: 10.1006/cbir.1999.0490
14. Szymaś B, Przybył A. Midgut histological picture of the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) following consumption of substitute feeds supplemented with feed additives. Nauka Przyroda Technologie 2007; 1 (4): 48-53.
15. Das Dores Teixeira A, Marques-Araújo S, Zanuncio JC, Serrão JE. Peritrophic membrane origin in adult bees (Hymenoptera): immunolocalization. Micron 2014; 68 (4): 91-97. doi: 10.1016/j. micron.2014.09.009
16. Crossmon G. A modification of Mallory’s connective tissue stain with a discussion of the principles involved. Anatomical Record 1937; 69 (1): 33-38. doi: 10.1002/ar.10906901
17. Özbek M, Ergün E, Beyaz F, Ergün, L, Yıldırım N et al. Prenatal development and histochemical characteristics of gastrointestinal mucins in sheep fetuses. Microscopy Research and Technique 2018; 81 (6): 630-648. doi: 10.1002/jemt.23018
18. Dabour K, Al Naggar Y, Masry S, Naiem E, Giesy JP. Cellular alterations in midgut cells of honey bee workers (Apis millefera L.) exposed to sublethal concentrations of CdO or PbO nanoparticles or their binary mixture. Science of the Total Environment 2019; 651: 1356-1367. doi: 10.1016/j. scitotenv.2018.09.311
19. Doğaroğlu M. Modern Arıcılık Teknikleri. 4th ed. Tekirdağ, Turkey: Türkmenler Press; 2009 (in Turkish).
20. Gençer HV, Fıratlı Ç. Central Anatolia ecotypes (A. m. anatoliaca) and Caucasian race (A. m. caucasica) morphological features of honey bees. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 1999; 23 (1): 107-113 (in Turkish with an abstract in English).
21. Güler A, Kaftanoğlu O, Bek Y, Yeninar H. Discrimination of some Anatolian honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) races and ecotypes by using morphological characteristics. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 1999; 23 (4): 337- 343 (in Turkish with an abstract in English).
22. Kekeçoğlu M. Türkiye’deki bal arısı çeşitliliği. Journal of Apiculture Research 2010; 4: 5-8 (in Turkish).
23. Richards AG, Richards PA. The peritrophic membranes of insects. Annual Review of Entomology 1977; 22 (1): 219-240.
24. Tibbetts IR. The distribution and function of mucous cells and their secretions in the alimentary tract of Arrhamphus sclerolepis krefftii. Journal of Fish Biology 1997; 50: 809-820.
25. Roig-Alsina A, Michener CD. Studies of the phylogeny and classification of long-tongued bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea). University of Kansas Science Bulletin 1993; 55: 123-173.
26. Snodgrass RE. Anatomy of the Honeybee. Ithaca, NY, USA: Cornell University Press; 1956.
27. Ferreira A, Cruz-Landim C. A comparative study of the rectal glands of Apoidea (Hymenoptera). Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências 1969; 41: 591-600.
28. Serrao JE, Marques-Silva S, Martins GF. The rectum of Oxaea flavescens (Andrenidae) has a specialized structure among bees. Micron 2004; 35 (4): 245-253.