| Immunogold localization of vitellogenin in the ovaries, hypopharyngeal glands and head fat bodies of honeybee workers, Apis mellifera. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20337562 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Vitellogenin is a yolk precursor protein in most oviparous females. In the advanced eusocial honeybee, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae), vitellogenin has recently attracted much interest as this protein, in addition to a classical function in oocyte development in the reproductive queen caste, has evolved functions in the facultatively sterile female worker caste not documented in other species. However, research on the spatial dynamics of vitellogenin in various tissues is not easily performed with available tools. Here we present an immunogold staining procedure that visualizes honeybee vitellogenin in resin embedded tissue. To establish the protocol, we used ovaries of worker bees from colonies with and without a queen. Under the first condition, vitellogenin is assumed not to be present in the workers' ovaries. Under the second condition, the ovaries of worker bees become vitellogenic, with abundant opportunities for detection of complex patterns of vitellogenin uptake and storage. By use of this experimental setup, the staining method is shown to be both sensitive and specific. To demonstrate the functional significance of the protocol, it was subsequently used to identify vitellogenin protein in the hypopharyngeal glands (brood food producing head glands) of nursing worker bees and in adjacent head fat body cells for the first time. Localization of vitellogenin in these tissues supports previously hypothesized roles of vitellogenin in social behavior. This protocol thus provides deeper insights into the functions of vitellogenin in the honeybee. |
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Authors:
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Siri-Christine Seehuus; Kari Norberg; Trygve Krekling; Kim Fondrk; Gro V Amdam |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of insect science (Online) Volume: 7 ISSN: 1536-2442 ISO Abbreviation: J. Insect Sci. Publication Date: 2007 |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-03-26 Completed Date: 2010-06-17 Revised Date: 2010-12-14 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 101096396 Medline TA: J Insect Sci Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 1-14 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, N-1432 Aas, Norway. sirise@umb.no |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Bees / metabolism* Fat Body / metabolism Female Immunohistochemistry* Oocytes / metabolism Ovary / metabolism Reproducibility of Results Sensitivity and Specificity Vitellogenins / metabolism* |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Vitellogenins |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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