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. 2023 Jul 28;12(8):1510.
doi: 10.3390/antiox12081510.

Midgut Cell Damage and Oxidative Stress in Partamona helleri (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Workers Caused by the Insecticide Lambda-Cyhalothrin

João Victor de Oliveira Motta  1 , Lenise Silva Carneiro  1 , Luís Carlos Martínez  2 , Daniel Silva Sena Bastos  1 , Matheus Tudor Candido Santos Resende  1 , Bárbara Monteiro Castro Castro  3 , Mariana Machado Neves  1 , José Cola Zanuncio  3 , José Eduardo Serrão  1
Affiliations

Midgut Cell Damage and Oxidative Stress in Partamona helleri (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Workers Caused by the Insecticide Lambda-Cyhalothrin

João Victor de Oliveira Motta et al. Antioxidants (Basel). .

Abstract

The stingless bee Partamona helleri plays a role in pollinating both native and cultivated plants in the Neotropics. However, its populations can be reduced by the pyrethroid insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin. This compound may cross the intestinal barrier and circulate through the hemolymph, affecting various non-target bee organs. The aim of the present study was to assess the extent of cellular damage in the midgut and the resulting oxidative stress caused by lambda-cyhalothrin in P. helleri workers. Bees were orally exposed to lambda-cyhalothrin. The lethal concentration at which 50% of the bees died (LC50) was 0.043 mg a.i. L-1. The P. helleri workers were fed this concentration of lambda-cyhalothrin and their midguts were evaluated. The results revealed signs of damage in the midgut epithelium, including pyknotic nuclei, cytoplasm vacuolization, changes in the striated border, and the release of cell fragments, indicating that the midgut was compromised. Furthermore, the ingestion of lambda-cyhalothrin led to an increase in the activity of the detoxification enzyme superoxide dismutase and the levels of the NO2/NO3 markers, indicating oxidative stress. Conversely, the activities of the catalase and glutathione S-transferase enzymes decreased, supporting the occurrence of oxidative stress. In conclusion, the ingestion of lambda-cyhalothrin by P. helleri workers resulted in damage to their midguts and induced oxidative stress.

Keywords: cytotoxicity; histopathology; pollinators.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of the data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Light micrographs of the midgut epithelium of the stingless Partamona helleri (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) bees in the control group, showing columnar digestive cells (DC) with a spherical nucleus (N), striated border (arrow) and the peritrophic matrix (MP) in the midgut lumen (L).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Light micrographs of the midgut of Partamona helleri bees (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) exposed to LC50 of lambda cyhalothrin for 24 h (a,b), 48 h (c,d), and 72 h (e,f). After exposure, they were stained in H.E. We observed a pyknotic nuclei (P), cytoplasmic vacuolation (*), changes in the striated borders (arrow), cell fragments released into the tissue (red circle), the peritrophic matrix (MP), and nucleolus with condensed chromatin (Nu).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Light micrographs of the midgut of Partamona helleri (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) treated in the control group (a) and exposed to LC50 of lambda cyhalothrin for 24 h (b), 48 h (c), and 72 h (d) and stained with bromophenol mercury. In the control group, spherical crystals were found in the epithelium (E), well-stained nucleus (N), and musculature of the digestive tract (Mu). In the treatments with 24 h (b), 48 h (c), and 72 h (d), after exposure to lambda cyhalothrin, a light blue striated border (arrow), cytoplasmic vacuolation (*), and the peritrophic matrix (PM) were observed.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Activity (mean ± standard error-SE) of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) (A), catalase (CAT) (B), glutathione S-transferase (GST) (C), and nitrite/nitrate (NO2/NO3) (D) content in workers of Partamona helleri (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) in the control (C) and after exposure to lambda-cyhalothrin after different periods. Different letters on bars indicate differences after Tukey’s test at 5% significance level.
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