The effect of induced defecation in honey bee queens on the number and viability of spermatozoa in the spermatheca after instrumental insemination
Author(s)
Krystyna Czekońska, Bożena Chuda-Mickiewicz and Paweł Chorbiński
Abstract
This study determined the number and viability of spermatozoa accumulated in the spermathecae of honey bee (Apis mellifera) queens which did or did not defecate prior to instrumental insemination. The study used 64 samples of semen from the spermathecae of 33 defecating queens and 31 queens that did not defecate. Spermatozoa counts were estimated by computer-assisted sperm analysis with an HTM IVOS analyser. The viability of spermatozoa was determined by fluorescence staining with SYBR-14/propidium iodide (IP) and flow cytometry. Defecation by queens was found to have no effect on the number of spermatozoa accumulated in the spermatheca, but it did affect their viability.
