Differences in drone sperm morphometry and activity at the beginning and end of the season

Authors: ALDONA GONTARZ, DOROTA BANASZEWSKA, MAGDALENA GRYZINSKA, KATARZYNA ANDRASZEK

Abstract: The sperm cells of the honey bee, like the sperm of most invertebrates, belong to the modified type of spermatozoa. In our own research, differences have been observed in the activity of sperm cells isolated from drones at the beginning and end of the season. On the basis of these observations, research was undertaken to determine whether the changes in drone activity are associated with morphological changes. The sperm cells collected from drones at the beginning of the mating season are longer than the sperm cells from the end of the season. Moreover, sperm cells from the beginning of the season exhibited more intensive rotational motion than those collected at the end of the season. Experimental AgNO₃ staining differentiated the sperm head into the acrosomal part (darkly stained) and the distal part (lightly stained). Staining in this manner clearly identifies the sperm nucleus and structurally differentiates the tail.

Keywords: Apis mellifera, honey bee, drone, sperm morphometry

Full Text: PDF