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Proc Biol Sci

Title:		Queen-signal modulation of worker pheromonal composition in honeybees
Author(s):		Katzav-Gozansky T; Boulay R; Soroker V; Hefetz A;
Address:		"Department of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel. katzavt@post.tau.ac.il"
Journal Title:		Proc Biol Sci
Year:		2004
Volume:		271
Issue:		1552
Page Number:		2065 - 2069
DOI:		10.1098/rspb.2004.2839
ISSN/ISBN:		0962-8452 (Print) 1471-2954 (Electronic) 0962-8452 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Worker sterility in honeybees is neither absolute nor irreversible. Whether under queen or worker control, it is likely to be mediated by pheromones. Queen-specific pheromones are not exclusive to queens; workers with activated ovaries also produce them. The association between ovarian activation and queen-like pheromone occurrence suggests the latter as providing a reliable signal of reproductive ability. In this study we investigated the effect of queen pheromones on ovary development and occurrence of queen-like esters in workers' Dufour's gland. Workers separated from the queenright compartment by a double mesh behaved like queenless workers, activating their ovaries and expressing a queen-like Dufour's gland secretion, confirming that the pheromones regulating both systems are non-volatile. Workers with developed ovaries produced significantly more secretion than sterile workers, which we attribute primarily to increased ester production. Workers separated from the queenright compartment by a single mesh displayed a delayed ovarian development, which we attribute to interrupted transfer of the non-volatile pheromone between compartments. We suggest that worker expression of queen-like characters reflects a queen-worker arms race; and that Dufour's gland secretion may provide a reliable signal for ovarian activation. The associative nature between ovary development and Dufour's gland ester production remains elusive"
Keywords:		"Animals Bees/*physiology Chromatography, Gas Esters/analysis Female Male Ovary/metabolism/*physiology Oviposition/physiology Sex Attractants/metabolism/*physiology Statistics, Nonparametric;"
Notes:		"MedlineKatzav-Gozansky, Tamar Boulay, Raphael Soroker, Victoria Hefetz, Abraham eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2004/09/29 Proc Biol Sci. 2004 Oct 7; 271(1552):2065-9. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2004.2839"