Dolezal Adam, Brent Colin
School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
Cold Spring Harb Protoc. 2009 Jul;2009(7):pdb.prot5244. doi: 10.1101/pdb.prot5244.
Dissection of the reproductive system of ant workers and queens can be useful for answering many questions. Observations of ovarian status in both female castes can be used to identify relationships between other factors and the ovaries, determine whether an individual has laid eggs, and, with more advanced molecular techniques, identify the end product of the oocyte in question (e.g., trophic egg, viable egg, nonviable egg). In addition, dissection of queens allows for observation of the spermatheca (the sperm storage organ), and thus identification of whether an individual has mated. Sperm can also be sampled for genetic analyses. In this protocol, we describe the dissection of the female ant reproductive system. We also discuss dissection of the corpora allata glands, where juvenile hormone is produced.
解剖蚂蚁工蚁和蚁后的生殖系统有助于回答许多问题。观察这两种雌性蚁型的卵巢状态可用于确定其他因素与卵巢之间的关系，判断个体是否产卵，并且利用更先进的分子技术，识别所研究卵母细胞的最终产物（例如，营养卵、可育卵、不育卵）。此外，解剖蚁后可观察受精囊（精子储存器官），从而确定个体是否交配。精子也可取样用于基因分析。在本实验方案中，我们描述了雌性蚂蚁生殖系统的解剖方法。我们还讨论了咽侧体腺的解剖，咽侧体腺是产生保幼激素的部位。
