Evaluation of larval crawling behavior in Drosophila melanogaster exposed to lead acetate and treated with antioxidant BHA

Abstract

The act of locomotion is crucial for various purposes, including finding food, locating a mate, escaping predators, defending territory, and responding to stress. Lead exposure poses a significant threat to neurodevelopment, particularly during early life stages. This study evaluates the neurotoxic effects of lead acetate on Drosophila melanogaster larvae and explores whether BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), a known synthetic antioxidant can mitigate these effects. Using a standardized crawling assay, we quantified larval motility after exposure to 1 mM and 1.5 mM lead acetate, with 10 mM BHA. Lead acetate caused a significant, dose-dependent decline in larval locomotion, likely due to oxidative stress-induced neuronal impairment. Co-administration of BHA restored larval motor function to a significant extent, suggesting its neuroprotective role via antioxidant-mediated reduction of oxidative stress. These results suggest that BHA could be explored as a potential intervention against lead neurotoxicity in other model organisms and environmental settings. These findings underscore the utility of D. melanogaster as a model for behavioural toxicology and highlight the therapeutic potential of antioxidants in mitigating heavy metal-induced neurobehavioral impairments.