Chronic Exposure to Lead Acetate Affect Cognition in Drosophila melanogaster Larvae
Author : Nandini, Hemanth Kumar S, Damini CS and Shakunthala V
Abstract :
Lead toxicity has been a matter of concern and a major risk factor for public health in many parts of the world. Lead (Pb) is a toxic heavy metal that is widely dispersed in the environment due to various human activities such as industrial emissions and the use of lead-based products. Inorganic Lead is highly neurotoxic due to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Moreover, its exposure poses a significant threat to human health, including CNS alterations and deficits of recent memory, learning, and focus. In this study, we have explored the possibility and usefulness of the vinegar fly (commonly called fruit fly) Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to lead acetate employing various behavioral assays. The vinegar fly offers the adaptability and toolkit needed for researchers to experimentally examine and study the behavior and gene expression in a defined population. We have assessed the toxic effects of inorganic lead acetate on third-instar larvae of vinegar flies for their cognitive and olfactory responses in a time and dose-dependent manner. We have measured the olfactory response index of lead-treated flies and have also looked at their learning abilities. Our results show that chronic exposure to lead acetate negatively affects the olfaction in the larvae of vinegar flies. Most behavioural parameters investigated were significantly rescued in the lead-poisoned fruit flies (p < 0.05) when co-treated with antioxidant Butylated hydroxyanisole. The results suggest that Butylated hydroxyanisole has a protective effect against lead toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster and could potentially be used as a therapeutic agent for lead poisoning in humans.
Keywords :
Lead Toxicity, Drosophila melanogaster, Cognition, Olfaction, Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA).
