Analysis and content of ATP in spermatozoa of honeybees

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration in sperm of honeybee (Apis mellifera) was determined by using a firefly-luciferase-luminescence method. Sperm from drone ejaculates contained 136.6 nmol ATP/10⁹ cells. Sperm recovered from queen spermathecae contained 209.7 nmol ATP/10⁹ cells. The ATP content of the spermathecal wall and fluid increased as queens became older. The methods described for ATP measurement of sperm extracts provide an alternative to the haemocytometer method for estimating concentrations of sperm from honeybees and possibly other insect species as well.