Toxicological effects of the insecticide fipronil in workers and queens of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae): neural activity and detoxification proteins

Abstract

The pollination by Apis mellifera is of extreme ecological as well as agricultural importance. This species also plays an important role in beekeeping. However, some xenobiotic substances, such as fipronil introduced in agrosystems, are toxic for bees and have caused mass disappearance of colonies in several countries. Based on this information, this study aims at analyzing the toxicological effects of fipronil under laboratory conditions on the neural activity and proteins involved in the process of intoxication in the brain of workers and queens of A. mellifera, as this insecticide acts on the nervous system. In addition, recovery bioassays will be conducted to evaluate the capacity of adaptation of bees based on the identification of proteins involved in the process of detoxification. To this end, toxicity experiments using fipronil will be carried out with newly emerged workers, foragers, and queens of A. mellifera obtained from the apiary of the Dept. of Biology of Unesp-Rio Claro-SP. Bees will then be dissected for removal of the brain, which will be fixed and processed for histochemical analysis of neural activity and bidimensional electrophoresis. This study will be an important contribution to clarify the toxic effect of xenobiotics on bees and the capacity of recovery they might have following exposure. (AU)