Abstract
The present study reports the localization of acid phosphatase in the hypopharyngeal gland cells from workers (newly-emerged, nurse and forager), queens (newly-emerged and laying) and males (newly-emerged and mature for mating) of the Brazilian stingless bee, Scaptotrigona postica. The phosphatase activity varied in intensity and localization depending on the individual class, physiological age and the substrate used. In newly-emerged workers, the phosphatase-positive sites suggest the involvement of the enzyme with cellular differentiation that occurs in the presecretory phase, in nurse workers with protein synthesis and in forager workers with changes in cellular activity or glandular regression. In males mature for mating and laying queens, the positive sites are related to secretory activity, showing that the gland maintains some activity in spite of the regressive aspect. Of the substrates used, β-glycerophosphate gave the least specific localization.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aidells B, Lockshin RA, Cutten A(1971) Breakdown of the silk glands of Galleria mellonella - Acid phosphatase in involuting glands. J Insect Physiol 17: 857–869.
Alberts B, Bray D, Lewis J, Raff M, Roberts K, Watson JD (1997) Biologia Molecular da Célula, 3a. ed, Porto Alegre: Artes Médicas.
Beadle DJ, Livingston DC, Read S (1971) Ultrastructural localization of acid phosphatase, non-specific esterase and β-glucuronidase in the midgut epithelium of Tenebrio molitor, Schistocerca gregaria and Carausius morosus. Histochemie 28: 243–249.
Beadle DJ, Gahan PB (1969) The localization and types of acid phosphatases in the midgut epithelium of Carausius morosus. Histochem J 1: 539–549.
Bowen ID, Bowen SM (1990) Programmed Cell Death in Tumours and Tissues. London: Chapman & Hall.
Cavalcante VM(1998) Reorganização do intestinomédio em A. mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae) durante a metamorfose: Estudos ultraestruturais e citoquίmicos. 135 p. Dissertação (Mestrado em Biologia Celular e Molecular) - Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro.
Chayen J, Bitensky L, Butcher RG (1973) Practical Histochemistry. London: John Wiley & Sons.
Cone MV, Eschenberg KM Histochemical localization of acid phosphatase in the ovary of Gerris remigis Say (Hemiptera). J Exp Zool 161: 337–352.
Costa AMF, Cruz-Landim C (1977) Estudo comparativo das glândulas do sistema salivar dos Apidae sociais (Hymenoptera). Rev Bras Biol 37: 649–663.
Costa RAC, Cruz-Landim C (1999a) Electrophoretical polypeptide pattern of hypopharyngeal glands extracts from workers and males of Scaptotrigona postica Latr. (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae). Neth J Zool 49: 157–166.
Costa RAC, Cruz-Landim C(1999b) Occurrence and morphometry of the hypopharyngeal glands in Scaptotrigona postica Lat. (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae). J Biosci 24: 101–106.
Costa RAC, Cruz-Landim C (2000) Comparative study of the ultrastructure and secretory dynamic of hypopharyngeal glands in queens, workers and males of Scaptotrigona postica Latreille (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae). Biocell 24: 39–48.
Cruz-Landim C, Costa RAC (1998) Structure and function of the hypopharyngeal glands of Hymenoptera: A comparative approach. J Comp Biol 3: 151–163.
Cruz-Landim C, Silva-de-Moraes RLM, Costa-Leonardo AM(1986/87). Ultra-estrutura das glândulas hipofaríngeas de Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides Lep (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Naturalia 11/12: 89–96.
Doty SB, Smith CE, Hand AR, Oliver C (1977) Inorganic trimetaphosphatase as a histochemical marker for lysosomes in light and electron microscopy. J Histochem Cytochem 25: 1381–1384.
Gomori G (1952) Microscopic Histochemistry Principles and Practice. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Holtzman, E (1989) Lysosomes. New York: Plenum Press.
Jimenez R, Gilliam M (1990) Ultrastructure of the ventriculus of the honey bee, Apis mellifera (L.): Cytochemical localization of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and nonspecific esterase. Cell Tissue Res 261: 431–443.
Kerr WE, Zucchi R, Nakadaira JT, Butolo JE (1962) Reproduction in the social bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae). J N Y Entomol Soc 70: 265–276.
Lockshin RA (1969) Lysosomes in insects. In: Dingle JT et al., eds. Lysosomes in Biology and Pathology. Vol. 6. Lysosomes in Applied Biology and Therapeutics. London: North Holland.
McGee-Russell SM, Ross KFA (1971) Cell Structure and its Interpretation. London: Edward Arnold publ.
Nath J, Butler L (1971) Acid phosphatase during development of the black carpet beetle Attagenus megatoma. Canad J Biochem 49: 311–315.
Oliver C (1980) Cytochemical localization of acid phosphatase and trimetaphosphatase activities in exocrine acinar cells. J Histochem Cytochem 28: 78–81.
Pearse AGE (1960) Histochemistry Theoretical and Applied. London: J&A Churchill ed.
Reginato RD (1998) Diferenciacçâo dos ovários em rainhas e operárias de A. mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae): Aspectos ultra-estruturais e citoquímicos. 129p. Dissertação (Mestrado em Biologia Celular e Molecular) - Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro.
Ryder TA, Bowen ID (1975) A method for the fine structural localization of acid phosphatase activity using p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate. J Histochem Cytochem 23: 235–237.
Silva-de-Moraes RLM (1998) Morte celular nas glnâdulas hipofar ίíngeas de Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae). 97 p. Tese (Livre Docência em Biologia Celular e Molecular) - Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro.
Silva-de-Moraes RLM, Silva, RM, Cruz-Landim C (1996) Citoquímica ultra-estrutural na avaliação da dinâmica do processo secretor em glândulas exócrinas de meliponíneos (Hymenoptera, Apidae). In: Encontro Sobre Abelhas, 2, Ribeirão Preto, pp. 78–86.
Simpson J, Riedel IBM, Wilding N (1968) Invertase in the hypopharyngeal glands of the honeybee. J Apicult Res 7: 29–36.
White Jr JW, Subers MH, Schepartz AI (1963) Identification of inhibine, the antibacterial factor in honey glucose oxidase system. Biochim Biophys Acta 73: 57–70.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ana Cássia Costa, R., da Cruz-Landim, C. Distribution of Acid Phosphatases in the Hypopharyngeal Glands from Workers, Queens and Males of a Brazilian Stingless Bee Scaptotrigona Postica Latreille: An Ultrastructural Cytochemical Study. Histochem J 33, 653–662 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016306501904
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016306501904