Circadiane änderungen im endokrinen system der Honigbiene, Apis mellifera, effekt von haft und Ocellenblendung

By PAF-staining it can be shown how the amount of neurosecretion in the pars intercerebralis (PI) and in the corpora cardiaca (CC) changes during the course of the day. Simultaneously, the density of nuclei in the corpora allata (CA) was measured. The secretion in the PI and CC is minimal at midday. With this the relatively small changes in the density of nuclei in the CA are negatively correlated. When normal animals are kept in a daylight cage, the content of secretion in the PI and CC does not decrease during the morning as it does in free flying foragers. It one places bees with black varnished ocelli in this cage, the amount of secretion increases very much, and some animals show an extremely high density of nuclei in the CA. With the help of a simple model, the results are discussed as an ocellary controlling influence on humoral regulation of motor activity.