Abstract: 【Aim】 Sex pheromone receptors (PRs) are important receptors for the perception of queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) in honeybee drones. The aim of this study is to analyze the expression characteristics of candidate sex pheromone receptor genes in the antennae and brains of Apis cerana cerana and Apis mellifera ligustica drones subjected to QMP stimulation, so as to provide the theoretical basis for further studies on the biological function of odorant receptor (OR) genes in honeybees. 【Methods】 qRT-PCR was employed to detect and analyze the mRNA expression levels of four OR genes including Or10, Or11, Or18 and Or170 in the antennae and brains of flying and crawling drones of A. c. cerana and A. m. ligustica exposed to 10 μL QMP ［7.04 μg/μL (E)-9-oxodec-2-enoic acid (9-ODA)+1.26 μg/μL 9-hydroxydec-2-enoic acid (9-HDA)+0.03 μg/μL methylp-hydroxybenzoate (HOB)］ and 10 μL 7.04 μg/μL 9-ODA, respectively. 【Results】 The results showed that QMP and 9-ODA significantly inhibited the transcription of Or11 in the antennae and brains of A. c. cerana and A. m. ligustica drones compared to the blank control group. The mRNA expression levels of AcOr18 and AcOr170 in the antennae of A. c. cerana drones were down-regulated significantly by QMP and 9-ODA. Moreover, QMP and 9-ODA significantly decreased the mRNA expression levels of Or170 in the brains of drones of the two bees. After A. c. cerana drones were subjected to the stimulation of QMP or 9-ODA, the mRNA expression level of AcOr11 was significantly higher in the brain of flying drones than in the brain of crawling drones, whereas showed no significant difference in the antennae between flying drones and crawling drones. 【Conclusion】 Or11 in the antennae and brains of A. c. cerana and A. m. ligustica drones can respond to 9-ODA stimulation, and its expression is down-regulated after 9-ODA stimulation.

Key words: Apis cerana cerana; Apis mellifera ligustica, drone, queen mandibular pheromone, odorant receptor