Unexpectedly Strong Effect of Caffeine on the Vitality of Western Honeybees (Apis mellifera)

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A. Strachecka^1*, M. Krauze², K. Olszewski¹, G. Borsuk¹, J. Paleolog¹, M. Merska², J. Chobotow³, M. Bajda¹, and K. Grzywnowicz⁴

¹Department of Biological Basis of Animal Production, Faculty of Biology and Animal Breeding, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland; E-mail: aneta.strachecka@up.lublin.pl; krzysztof.olszewski@up.lublin.pl; grzegorz.borsuk@up.lublin.pl; jerzy.paleolog@up.lublin.pl; milena.bajda@wp.pl

²Department of Biochemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Biology and Animal Breeding, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland; E-mail: magdalena.krauze@up.lublin.pl; malwina.merska@interia.pl

³Department of Zoology, Museum Zoological/Laboratory, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland; E-mail: jacek.chobotow@op.pl

⁴Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland; E-mail: grzyw@hermes.umcs.lublin.pl

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received May 22, 2014; Revision received June 26, 2014

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We examined the influence of caffeine on honeybee lifespan, Nosema resistance, key enzyme activities, metabolic compound concentrations, and total DNA methylation levels. Caffeine slowed age-related metabolic tendencies. Bees that consumed caffeine lived longer and were not infested with Nosema spp. Caffeine-treated workers had higher protein concentrations. The levels increased with aging but they then decreased in older bees. Caffeine increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx, CAT, GST), AST, ALT, ALP, neutral proteases, and protease inhibitors, and the concentrations of uric acid, triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, and Ca²⁺. Acidic and alkaline protease activities were lower in the bees treated with caffeine. Creatinine and Mg²⁺ concentrations were higher in the caffeine-treated workers but only up to 14 days of age. Caffeine significantly decreased DNA methylation levels in older bees. The compound could be considered as a natural diet supplement increasing apian resistance to stress factors. Our studies will enhance possibilities of using Apis mellifera as a model organism in gerontological studies.

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KEY WORDS: honeybee, caffeine, vitality, antioxidant, proteolysis, DNA methylation

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297914110066

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