Aging results in a decline in cellular energy metabolism in the trophocytes and oenocytes of worker honeybees (Apis mellifera)

Trophocytes and oenocytes of honeybees are used in studies of cellular senescence, but their cellular energy metabolism with age is poorly understood. In this study, the molecules involved in cellular energy metabolism were evaluated in the trophocytes and oenocytes of young and old worker bees. The results revealed that (i) β-oxidation and protein synthesis decreased with age, (ii) fat and glycogen accumulation increased with age, and (iii) glycolysis did not change with age. These results indicate that the trophocytes and oenocytes of young bees have higher activity of cellular energy metabolism compared with old worker bees and that aging results in a decline in the cellular energy metabolism of worker bees.