Abstract: In order to explore the role of androgen receptor-like (AR-like) during spermatogenesis of termites, immunocytochemistry method was employed to locate AR-like of reproductives and workers of Reticulitermes aculabialis during the spermatogenesis. The results showed that the AR-ike existed in the cytoplasm and the nucleus of primary spermatocyte in spermatogenesis in reproductives and workers, with a lower expression level in workers than that in reproductives. The results suggest that the expression of AR-ike is associated with the meiosis of primary spermatocytes during spermatogenesis, and androgen and AR-ike affected spermatogenesis by regulating the first meiosis of spermatocytes. Although the testes development of workers is restrained, workers have the same mechanism of hormonal regulation as the reproductives during spermatogenesis, so they are able to form sperms in their testes. These results provide new histological evidence that workers can differentiate into notenic reproductives according to the demand of the colony, even though the gonads of workers have degenerated.

Key words: Reticulitermes aculabialis, androgen receptor-ike, spermatogenesis, workers, reproductives