Effect of E-field at frequency 50 Hz on protein, glucose, and triglycerides concentration in honeybee hemolymph

Abstract

The development of technology contributes to the increase in the exposure of living organisms to the E-field. While searching for food in the environment, the honeybee is exposed to the influence of this factor. The aim of our research was to determine the E-field effect with a frequency of 50 Hz at various intensities and exposure times on the concentration of protein, glucose, and triglycerides in the honeybee hemolymph. The analysis was carried out on hemolymph taken from at the age of 2 days old worker honeybees. The research showed changes in the tested parameters. Change related to exposure time and field intensity was noticed. The lowest protein concentration in the hemolymph of worker honeybee was observed in all control groups (0.13 mg/mL). The highest in the experimental groups were 23.0 kV/m and 34.5 kV/m with 12 h exposure time (1.04 mg/mL and 1.25 mg/mL). In all experimental groups, statistically significant lower values of glucose concentration in the hemolymph of worker honeybee were observed than in the control groups (23.43–23.55 mmol/l). The highest concentration of triglycerides was observed in the control groups (1.55 mmol/l). Lower but not statistically significant values were observed in the 5.0 kV/m 1 h, 11.5 kV/m 1 and 3 h, and 23.0 kV/m 3 h groups, while the differences were statistically significant in the other groups. The results of the research confirm our earlier observations that the E-field can induce similar reactions in the body to the pathogen. Changes in these important indicators of the body’s nutritional status such as protein, glucose, and triglyceride levels can have long-term effects.

Keywords:

• Honeybee physiology
• biochemical markers
• intensities
• exposure time

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

P.M. – conceptualization, formal analysis, development of methodology, writing-original draft; P.M and A.M. – writing-review & editing and data curation, development visualization, P.M. and A.M. – carrying out the experiment; P.M. and A.S. – consultation; P.B. – designed E-field exposure system and development of the E-field parameters used in experiments. A.R. –consultation.

Data availability statement

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by Apiary at Research and Didactic Station in Swojczyce, Wroclaw, Poland and Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Department of Environmental Hygiene and Animal Welfare.