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Histochemistry and Ultrastructure of Urocytes in the Pupae of the Stingless Bee Melipona quadrifasciata (Hymenoptera: Meliponini)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 September 2013

Waléria C.A. Furtado ,
Dihego O. Azevedo ,
Gustavo F. Martins ,
José C. Zanuncio  and
José Eduardo Serrão
Waléria C.A. Furtado
Affiliation:
Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, 36570-000 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
Dihego O. Azevedo
Affiliation:
Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, 36570-000 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
Gustavo F. Martins
Affiliation:
Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, 36570-000 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
José C. Zanuncio
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, 36570-000 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
José Eduardo Serrão*
Affiliation:
Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, 36570-000 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
*
*Corresponding author.jeserrao@ufv.br
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Abstract

The main cell types of the adult bee fat body are trophocytes and oenocytes; however, in pupae of some newly emerged bees, trophocytes are modified into cells called urocytes, which possibly function as a substitute for Malpighian tubules during metamorphosis when larval tubules are not functional and/or storage of urate salts is required. This study evaluated the morphology of urocytes in the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata and the possibility of maintaining these cells in primary culture. The urocytes M. quadrifasciata are white spherical cells with an irregular surface as observed by stereomicroscopy. They may be found individually or in groups associated with tracheae. Urocytes have a single, small, and spherical nucleus and cytoplasm rich in neutral polysaccharides, lipid droplets, protein, and granules containing calcium and urate salts. Our findings suggest that urocytes play a role in storage of neutral polysaccharides and calcium in M. quadrifasciata pupae and that these cells can be cultured for 72 h.

Keywords

apidaecell cultureEDXSfat bodyinsectmetamorphosis
Type
Biomedical and Biological Applications
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 19 , Issue 6 , December 2013 , pp. 1502 - 1510
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2013 

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