Seasonal changes in ultrastructure and gene expression in the fat body of worker honey bees

Abstract

The anatomical, physiological, and behavioral characteristics of honey bees are affected by the season as well as division of labor. In this study, we examined the structure, ultrastructure, and gene expression of fat body cells in both long-lived winter and short-lived summer worker bees (the youngest stage of hive bees and forager bees). In contrast to hive bees, foragers and winter bees have a higher metabolism due to intensive muscle activity during their flight (foragers) or endothermic heat production (winter bees). These workers differ from hive bees in the biology of their mitochondria, peroxisomes, and lysosomes as well as in the expression of the genes involved in lipid, carbohydrate, amino acid metabolism, insulin, and TGF- β signaling. Additionally, the expression of genes related to phospholipid metabolism was higher in the hive bees. However, we found no differences between workers in the expression of genes controlling cell organelles, such as the Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, nucleus, and vacuoles, as well as genes for DNA replication, cell cycle control, and autophagy. Furthermore, lysosomes, autophagic processes and lipofuscin particles were more frequently observed in winter bees using electron microscopy.