Potential risk of organophosphate exposure in male reproductive system of a non-target insect model Drosophila melanogaster

This study demonstrates altered testis structure, decreased germ cell viability and gross body weight, increased activities of oxidative stress markers lipid peroxidase (LPO), and the endogenous antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT), and altered expression of reproductive marker proteins like vitellogenin and mitoferrin in acephate-exposed flies when compared to control counterparts. Altered reproductive behavior, indicated by a significant decline in the number of mating pairs, validates the adverse effect of chronic acephate exposure on male reproduction in the non-target insect model D. melanogaster.Graphical abstractThe plate represents the findings of the entire study. Study demonstrates that chronic sub-lethal acephate exposure causes significant alteration in male reproductive structures, physiology and behavior which have been reflected through the alterations in the studied parameters. The results confirm that the altered expressions of the selected parameters might be the reason for the compromised male reproductive efficiency in the non-target model organism, Drosophila melanogaster following chronic acephate exposure.
Source: Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology - Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research