Modulation of Food Choice Behaviour in Drosophila Larvae by Lead Toxicity and Antioxidant Intervention
Author : Manoj PB, Ruthu RN and Shakunthala V
Abstract :
Environmental exposure to heavy metals such as lead (Pb) remains a pervasive ecological concern due to its cumulative neurotoxicity and ability to disrupt fundamental physiological functions across taxa. Drosophila melanogaster, a genetically tractable and behaviourally complex model organism, provides a powerful system to investigate sublethal toxicological effects, particularly those affecting neural integrity and behaviour. The present study examines the impact of dietary lead acetate on the food preference behaviour of D. melanogaster larvae and evaluates the neuroprotective potential of Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), a phenolic antioxidant known for its reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging ability. Third instar larvae were chronically exposed to 1.0 mM and 1.5 mM concentrations of lead acetate via standard cornmeal media, with and without co-administration of 10 mM BHA. A two-choice colour-based food preference assay was employed to quantify alterations in gustatory behaviour. Larvae exposed to lead acetate demonstrated a marked decline in food preference index, indicating impaired chemosensory function and potential disruption of central processing pathways involved in decision-making. However, larvae co-treated with BHA exhibited a significant improvement in food preference behaviour compared to lead-only groups, suggesting partial mitigation of lead-induced behavioural deficits.
These findings indicate that lead exposure alters feeding behaviour in Drosophila through mechanisms likely involving oxidative stress and neural dysfunction. BHA-mediated rescue of feeding behaviour supports its potential role as a neuroprotective agent against heavy metal toxicity. The study reinforces the utility of D. melanogaster as a high-throughput model for behavioural toxicology and highlights the relevance of antioxidant-based interventions in environmental health risk assessments.
Keywords :
Drosophila melanogaster, Lead Toxicity, Food Preference, Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), Antioxidant Intervention.
