Free Access
Issue
Apidologie
Volume 29, Number 6, 1998
Page(s) 579 - 584
DOI https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:19980610
Apidologie 29 (1998) 579-584
DOI: 10.1051/apido:19980610

Acid phosphatase activity in the midgut of honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) larvae

Ales Gregorca, Ivor D. Bowenb and Azra Pogacnika

a  Veterinary faculty of the University of Ljubljana, Gerbiceva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
b  School of Pure Applied Biology, University Wales, Cardiff, P.O. Box 915, Cardiff, UK

Abstract - Acid phosphatase activity has been used to characterise lytic activities within honeybee larvae midgut cells. Significant nascent or free acid phosphatase activity was found in the midgut of 2-, 3-, 3.5- and 5-day-old honeybee larvae. Free acid phosphatase in the cytosol of the midgut cells appeared to be a prelude to cellular autolysis. The source of free acid phosphatase activity was not lysosomal as there was no sign of acid phosphatase activity spreading or leaking from lysosomes. The fine structural localization of acid phosphatase in lysosomes and cytoplasm in honeybee larvae was compared with findings previously reported in other insects. © Inra/DIB/AGIB/Elsevier, Paris


Key words: Apis mellifera / honeybee larvae / midgut / histochemistry / cytochemistry / acid phosphatase