The amount of dopamine, and the expression of its receptor genes, in the brains of worker honey bees engaged in different activities

Author of the article:ZHANG Zhao-Nan； HUANG Jing-Nan；FENG Wang-Jiang；YU Ke-Jun；LI Zhi-Guo；NIE Hong-Yi； SU Song-Kun

Author's Workplace：College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China；College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China；College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China；College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China；College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China；College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China；College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China

Key Words：Apis mellifera ligustica; dopamine; neurotransmitters; high performance liquid chromatograph-electrochemical detection system; gene; behaviors

Abstract：[Objectives]  To quantify the amount of dopamine, and the expression of its receptor genes, in the brains of worker bees (Apis mellifera ligustica) engaged in different activities. 【Methods】 Worker bees performing different activities were collected from a bee observation hive, and their whole brain dissected and removed. The dopamine content was measured with a high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detector and the relative expression of its receptor genes with a Quantitative Real-time PCR instrument.【Results】  A method for measuring dopamine and the expression of its receptors gene in the brains of honeybees with different roles was established. The dopamine content in the brain of nurse honeybees was significantly different from that of newly emerged, foraging or resting, workers . Furthermore, the dopamine receptor gene 1 and transporter genes were more highly expressed in nurse bees. However, the relative expression level of the dopamine receptor genes 2 and 3 in the brains of workers engaged in these four different activities was not significantly different.【Conclusion】  Dopamine is closely related to the behavior of bees; the dopamine receptor 1 gene and transporter genes may be involved in feeding behavior.