Abstract Honey bee Apis mellifera L. adults exhibit a sterol composition dominated by phytosterols such as 24-methylene-cholesterol and β-sitosterol, while most insects possess cholesterol as a primary sterol. To examine whether sterol composition varies by social roles, we analyzed nurse bees and foragers using GC/MS. The analysis showed the four phytosterols, with 24-methylene-cholesterol being predominant. Honey, a dietary source for honey bees, contained more campesterol than in the whole body, suggesting possible metabolic use. Few significant differences in sterol compositions among tissues indicated that sterol metabolism is not tissue specific. However, social roles influenced different sterol compositions; nurse bees had higher β-sitosterol and isofucosterol, while foragers had more 24-methylene-cholesterol. Additionally, nurse bees retained more 24-methylene-cholesterol in their midgut. These findings suggest that sterol metabolism is influenced by social roles, probably due to differences in diet, absorption, or retention, rather than tissue dependent metabolism.
Ito et al. (Tue,) studied this question.