Pollen Alters Amino Acid Levels in the Honey Bee Brain
Pollen nutrition is necessary for proper growth and development of adult honey bees. Yet, it is unclear how pollen affects the honey bee brain and behavior. We investigated whether pollen affects amino acids in the brains of caged, nurse-aged bees, and what the behavioral consequences might be. We also tested whether parasitic stress altered this relationship by analyzing bees infected with prevalent stressor, Nosema ceranae. Levels of 18 amino acids in individual honey bee brains were measured using Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry at two different ages (Day 7 and Day 11).
Article by: Stephanie L. Gage, Samantha Calle, Natalia Jacobson, Mark Carroll and Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman
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