Studies On Structure Of Glands Related With Digestion And Measurement Of Enzymes Activities Of The Honeybee Workers, Apis Mellifera Ligustica L.

The microstructure of the honeybee workers, Apis mellifera ligustica L. cephalic salivary glands, thoracic salivary glands and hypopharyneal glands were studied by optical microscope, anatomical lens, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy. And the activities of amylase, sucrase, protease, pectinase, trehalase and lipase in the honeybee workers midguts and three kinds of glands were studied by spectrophotometry. The studies have analysed the functional and physiological and biochemical processes of the three kinds of glands from the perspective of structure and enzyme, so it have not only broadened the scope of research and observation of the the honeybee workers digestive glands, but also further enriched the physiology and nutrition gland morphology of the honeybee workers, and provided a theoretical basis for the bees morphology and cytology.The structure of cephalic salivary glands of the honeybee workers, Apis mellifera ligustica L.was observed. Results showed that the cephalic salivary glands were the two strings of flattened, pear-shaped bodies, each body called a alveoli, and composited of a lot of alveolis and ducts. The diameter of each alveoli is about 125×160μm. The surface of each alveoli and duct has many rules bulge. Outside of alveolis were full of the trachea and nerve cells. Its outermost was 1-2μm thick connective tissue membrane, and the internal were paretial cells and zymogen cells, a class of wax cells exisited in the acinar cells. Digestive enzyme activities of cephalic salivary glands and midgut wre measured. The results showed that the honeybee workers, Apis mellifera ligustica L. had amylase, sucrase, protease, pectinase and trehalase activity, and function of secreting digestive enzymes.The structure of thoracic salivary glands of the honeybee workers, Apis mellifera ligustica L.was observed. Results showed that thoracic salivary glands was located in the ventral, constitute of two strings of tubular bodies. Outside of acinars and ducts wre wrapped with many of the trachea, and nerve cells. Inside acinar there was partial cells and zymogen cells. Outside the cytoplasm of zymogen cells had a lot of storage bubble near the plasma membrane, inside the cytoplasm had abundant endoplasmic reticulum close to the nucleus. Digestive enzyme activities of thoracic salivary glands showed that it had function of secreting digestive enzymes.The structures of hypopharyneal gland of the honeybee workers, Apis mellifera ligustica L.were observed. Results showed that the pharyngeal gland was located in both sides of the head, and was a pair of highly coiled grape-like glands. The gland had about 1000 acinus. Each acinus diameter was about 120×180μm. It was connected with microtube between the alveoli. Nerve cells were the outside of the acinar cells, and its diameter was about 12μm. Each acinar had partial cells and zymogen cells, and royal jelly secreting cells. It was very rich endoplasmic reticulum in each acinar.The six kinds of digestive enzymes activities of the honeybee workers cephalic salivary glands, thoracic salivary glands, hypopharyneal glands and midguts were studied by spectrophotometry. The result showed that protease activity is high in the honeybee workers midgut, and there are significant discrepancies between midguts and three kinds of glands, which show that the midgut is the main organ to digest protein, while three kinds of glands only playing an additional role. Second, compared with the invertase activities in its midguts, the invertase activities in its hypopharyneal glands are obviously higher, which indicates that hypopharyneal glands are the main digestive organ to digest sucrose, followed by the midgut, the thoracic salivary glands and cephalic salivary glands play an additional role. Third, the thoracic salivary glands and cephalic salivary glands play an important role in the course of their digestion of pectin, the hypopharyneal glands and midgut play an additional role. The last, during the digestion of starch and trehalose, the three kinds of glands and midgut both have an important role.