Castellanos-Zacarías Carlos, Domínguez-Rebolledo Álvaro, Loeza-Concha Henry, Vivas-Rodríguez Jorge, Ramón-Ugalde Julio, Baeza-Rodríguez Juan, Zamora-Bustillos Roberto
TecNM-Conkal Technological Institute, Technological Avenue S/N, Conkal C.P. 97345, Mexico.
Mocochá Experimental Field, National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural, and Livestock Research, Km. 25 Mérida-Motul Old Highway, Mocochá C.P. 97454, Mexico.
Insects. 2024 Sep 7;15(9):676. doi: 10.3390/insects15090676.
Insufficient protein intake during the larval phase of drones affects the development of reproductive organs and spermatogenesis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the flowering-scarcity and flowering-onset periods on the eversion of the copulatory apparatus, ejaculation, and sperm quality of drones ( L.). To stimulate the laying of drone eggs during the flowering-scarcity period, 1 L of sugar syrup was supplied weekly to the hives, along with a protein supplement made of 20% pollen and 80% brewer's yeast. During the periods of flowering scarcity and the onset of flowering, 800 drones were collected (200 per month). At the onset of flowering, 270 drones showed eversion of the copulatory apparatus, of which 162 ejaculated, compared to the flowering-scarcity period, where 112 drones showed eversion of the copulatory apparatus and 39 drones ejaculated. During the period of flowering onset, sperm parameters such as volume, concentration, motility, viability, acrosome integrity, and mitochondrial activity were higher compared to the period of flowering scarcity. In conclusion, we observed a greater number of drones with eversion of the copulatory apparatus and ejaculation, as well as better sperm quality with the drones bred during the period of flowering onset. These differences indicate that the flowering-scarcity period significantly impacts the reproductive parameters of drones.
雄蜂幼虫期蛋白质摄入不足会影响其生殖器官的发育和精子发生。本研究的目的是评估花期稀少期和花期开始期对雄蜂（L.）交配器外翻、射精及精子质量的影响。为了刺激在花期稀少期产下雄蜂卵，每周向蜂箱提供1升糖浆，并补充由20%花粉和80%啤酒酵母制成的蛋白质补充剂。在花期稀少期和花期开始期，收集了800只雄蜂（每月200只）。在花期开始时，270只雄蜂出现交配器外翻，其中162只射精；而在花期稀少期，112只雄蜂出现交配器外翻，39只雄蜂射精。与花期稀少期相比，在花期开始期，精子参数如体积、浓度、活力、存活率、顶体完整性和线粒体活性更高。总之，我们观察到在花期开始期培育的雄蜂中，出现交配器外翻和射精的雄蜂数量更多，精子质量也更好。这些差异表明花期稀少期对雄蜂的生殖参数有显著影响。
