Zinc-methionine but not organic selenium influence on antioxidant indices, acini gland size, royal jelly production and the relative expression of hsp90 and trx genes in honey bee during the hot season

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of organic zinc and selenium on the antioxidant indices, acini size, royal jelly production and relative expression of hsp90 and trx genes in honey bees under heat stress. Thirty colonies were exposed to heat stress (40°C for at least 4 hours per day) and randomly divided into six treatments. Treatments were syrup with: C) the control group receiving the syrup without additives, T1: 2500 µg /L of zinc, T2: 5000 µg /L of zinc, T3: 500 µg /L selenium and T4: 1000 µg /L selenium. Organic zinc increased (P < 0.05), but selenium supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) the activities of thioredoxin peroxidase and catalase. Organic zinc and selenium supplements decreased (P < 0.05), the relative gene expression of hsp90, but increased (P < 0.05) gene expression of trx as compared to the control. The lowest acini size was observed in C and the greatest acini size was observed in T2 (P < 0.05). Acini size increased (P < 0.05) as dose of organic zinc increased, but not for selenium doses. It was concluded that supplementation of zinc at dose of 5000 µg /L and selenium at dose of 500 µg /L has beneficial effects on producing royal jelly colonies.