›› 2012, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (6): 676-683.

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Organization and postembryonic development of the suboesophageal ganglion in the Chinese honeybee, Apis cerana cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

LI Zhao-Ying   

  • Received:2012-03-18 Revised:2012-05-15 Online:2012-06-20 Published:2012-06-20
  • Contact: LI Zhao-Ying E-mail:apis2002@yahoo.com.cn
  • About author:E-mail: apis2002@yahoo.com.cn

Abstract: The suboesophageal ganglion (SOG) receives sensory projections from the nerves of the mouthparts and gives rise to motorneurons that supply muscles of the mouthparts. The anatomical organization and postembryonic development of the SOG in the Chinese honeybee, Apis cerana cerana, was comparatively studied by using anatomy and immunohistochemical method (5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine, BrdU incorporation). The results showed that the SOG of the honeybee is composed of mandibular, maxillary and the labial neuromeres. During postembryonic development of the SOG, extensive proliferation in the SOG could be detected only within a narrow time window from prepupa to day 1 of pupal development during metamorphosis. Proliferative nuclei disappeared during day 4 of pupal development. In the SOG of A. cerana cerana, glial cells can be classified into three categories based on the position of their cell bodies, and cell morphology: surface associated glia, cortex associated glia and neuropil associated glia. This study provides an essential foundation for studying development and function of nervous system of honeybees.

Key words: Apis cerana cerana, suboesophageal ganglion, postembryonic development, glia, BrdU