Insect vitellogenins are an intriguing class of complex proteins. They primarily serve as a source of energy for the developing embryo in insect eggs. Vitellogenesis is a complex hormonally and neurally controlled process that command synthesis of vitellogenin molecules and ensures their transport from the female fat bodies or ovarial cells into eggs. The representatives of all insect hormones such as juvenile hormones, ecdysteroids, and neurohormones participate in vitellogenesis, but juvenile hormones (most insect species) and ecdysteroids (mostly Diptera) play the most important roles in the process. Strikingly, not only insect females, but also males have been reported to synthesize vitellogenins indicating their further utility in the insect body. Indeed, it has recently been found that vitellogenins perform a variety of biological functions in the insect body. They participate in defense reactions against entomopathogens such as nematodes, fungi, and bacteria, as well as against venoms such as the honeybee Apis mellifera venom. Interestingly, vitellogenins are also present in the venom of the honeybee itself, albeit their exact role is unknown; they most likely increase the efficacy of the venom in the victim's body. Within the bee's body vitellogenins contribute to the lifespan regulation as anti-aging factor acting under tight social interactions and hormonal control. The current minireview covers all of these functions of vitellogenins and portrays them as biologically active substances that play a variety of significant roles in both insect females and males, and not only acting as passive energy sources for developing embryo.

• MeSH
• Ecdysteroids * metabolism   MeSH
• Insecta metabolism   MeSH
• Juvenile Hormones metabolism   MeSH
• Ovary metabolism   MeSH
• Vitellogenins * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Ecdysteroids * MeSH
• Juvenile Hormones MeSH
• Vitellogenins * MeSH

Bees originally developed their stinging apparatus and venom against members of their own species from other hives or against predatory insects. Nevertheless, the biological and biochemical response of arthropods to bee venom is not well studied. Thus, in this study, the physiological responses of a model insect species (American cockroach, Periplaneta americana) to honeybee venom were investigated. Bee venom toxins elicited severe stress (LD50 = 1.063 uL venom) resulting in a significant increase in adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) in the cockroach central nervous system and haemolymph. Venom treatment induced a large destruction of muscle cell ultrastructure, especially myofibrils and sarcomeres. Interestingly, co-application of venom with cockroach Peram-CAH-II AKH eliminated this effect. Envenomation modulated the levels of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins in the haemolymph and the activity of digestive amylases, lipases, and proteases in the midgut. Bee venom significantly reduced vitellogenin levels in females. Dopamine and glutathione (GSH and GSSG) insignificantly increased after venom treatment. However, dopamine levels significantly increased after Peram-CAH-II application and after co-application with bee venom, while GSH and GSSG levels immediately increased after co-application. The results suggest a general reaction of the cockroach body to bee venom and at least a partial involvement of AKHs.

• Keywords
• American cockroach, adipokinetic hormone, dopamine, honey bee, melittin, metabolism, muscle ultrastructure, vitellogenin,
• MeSH
• Central Nervous System chemistry   drug effects   MeSH
• Hemolymph chemistry   drug effects   MeSH
• Insect Hormones pharmacology   MeSH
• Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid analogs & derivatives   pharmacology   MeSH
• Oligopeptides pharmacology   MeSH
• Periplaneta chemistry   drug effects   immunology   MeSH
• Immunity, Innate * MeSH
• Bee Venoms adverse effects   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• adipokinetic hormone MeSH Browser
• Insect Hormones MeSH
• Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid MeSH
• Oligopeptides MeSH
• Bee Venoms MeSH

In honeybees (Apis mellifera), the rate of aging is modulated through social interactions and according to caste differentiation and the seasonal (winter/summer) generation of workers. Winter generation workers, which hatch at the end of summer, have remarkably extended lifespans as an adaptation to the cold season when the resources required for the growth and reproduction of colonies are limited and the bees need to maintain the colony until the next spring. In contrast, the summer bees only live for several weeks. To better understand the lifespan differences between summer and winter bees, we studied the fat bodies of honeybee workers and identified several parameters that fluctuate in a season-dependent manner. In agreement with the assumption that winter workers possess greater fat body mass, our data showed gradual increases in fat body mass, the size of the fat body cells, and Vg production as the winter season proceeded, as well as contrasting gradual decreases in these parameters in the summer season. The differences in the fat bodies between winter and summer bees are accompanied by respective increases and decreases in telomerase activity and DNA replication in the fat bodies. These data show that although the fat bodies of winter bees differ significantly from those of summer bees, these differences are not a priori set when bees hatch at the end of summer or in early autumn but instead gradually evolve over the course of the season, depending on environmental factors.

• MeSH
• Behavior, Animal physiology   MeSH
• Longevity MeSH
• Adaptation, Physiological MeSH
• Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena physiology   MeSH
• DNA Replication physiology   MeSH
• Seasons MeSH
• Social Interaction MeSH
• Aging physiology   MeSH
• Telomerase metabolism   MeSH
• Fat Body metabolism   MeSH
• Bees cytology   genetics   metabolism   physiology   MeSH
• Cell Size * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Telomerase MeSH