Determination of some biochemical parameters of worker honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) belonging to different age groups

The catalase activity, total protein, and total RNA levels of worker bees of different age groups (4, 9, 15, 20, and 24 days old) within the same honeybee colony were studied. The catalase activities of group I (4 days), group II (9 days old), group III (15 days old), group IV (20 days old), and group V (24 days old) were 4.10 +/- 0.59, 4.32 +/- 0.57, 4.32 +/- 0.57, 4.41 +/- 0.49, and 4.47 +/- 0.48 kU/g, respectively. There were significant differences in total protein and total RNA levels among the different age groups of workers. The calculated total protein levels of group I, group II, group III, group IV, and group V were 22.28 +/- 0.77, 21.53 +/- 0.59, 20.95 +/- 1.05, 18.73 +/- 0.93, and 18.24 +/- 1.83 g/dL, respectively. The total RNA levels of group I, group II, group III, group IV, and group V were 22.42 +/- 0.16, 21.26 +/- 0.12, 19.30 +/- 0.08, 16.22 +/- 0.08, and 11.37 +/- 0.07 mu g/mu L, respectively. The results show that there was no significant difference among the average values of all age groups in catalase activity (P > 0.05), but significant differences were calculated among the total protein values of all age groups (P < 0.05).