The role of tyramine and octopamine in the regulation of reproduction in queenless worker honeybees |
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Authors: | Salomon Mor Malka Osnat Meer Robert K Vander Hefetz Abraham |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel;(2) Medical and Veterinary Entomology Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, FL, USA;(3) Present address: Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O.B 12, Rehovot, 76100, Israel |
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Abstract: | In honeybees, workers under queenless condition compete for reproduction and establish reproductive dominance hierarchy. Ovary
activation is generally accompanied by the expression of queen-like pheromones. Biogenic amines (BAs), in particular dopamine,
are believed to be involved in this process by regulating ovarian development. However, the role of BAs in establishing reproductive
dominance or their effect on queen-like pheromone production was not investigated. Here, we explored the effect of octopamine
(OA) and tyramine (TA) oral treatments on the propensity of treated bees to become reproductively dominant and produce queen-like
pheromones in Dufour’s and mandibular glands. One bee in a pair was treated with either OA or TA while the other was fed sugar
solution. TA was found to enhance ovary development and the production of esters in the Dufour’s gland and 9HDA (queen component)
in the mandibular glands, thus facilitating worker reproductive dominance. OA, on the other hand, did not enhance ovarian
development or ester production, but increased the production of 10HDA (worker major component) in the mandibular glands of
their sugar-paired mates. OA is known to induce foraging behavior by workers, while increased production of 10HDA characterizes
nursing workers. Therefore, we suggest that TA induces reproductive division of labor, while OA treatment results in caste
differentiation of workers to foragers and nurses. |
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