title: Chronic exposure of zinc oxide nanoparticles causes deviant phenotype in Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are commonly used nanomaterials (NMs) with versatile applications from high-end technologies to household products. This pervasive utilisation has brought human in the close interface with nanoparticles (NPs), hence questioning their safety prior to usage is a must. In this study, we have assessed the effects of chronic exposure to ZnO NPs (<50nm) on the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. Potential toxic effects were studied by evaluating longevity, climbing ability, oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation. Ensuing exposure, the F0 (parent), F1, F2, F3 and F4 generation flies were screened for the aberrant phenotype. Flies exposed to ZnO NPs showed distinctive phenotypic changes, like deformed segmented thorax and single or deformed wing, which were transmitted to the offspring's in subsequent generations. The unique abnormal phenotype is evident of chronic toxicity induced by ZnO NPs, although appalling, it strongly emphasize the importance to understand NPs toxicity for safer use.
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Division, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Delhi, 110054, India.
authors.forename: Avnika Singh
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Anand
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Division, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Delhi, 110054, India.
authors.forename: Dipti N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Division, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Delhi, 110054, India.
authors.forename: Shashi Bala
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Division, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Delhi, 110054, India. Electronic address: ektakohli@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ekta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kohli
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D004249:DNA Damage; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008136:Longevity; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010641:Phenotype; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D015034:Zinc Oxide
keywords: Drosophila melanogaster; Genotoxicity; Nanotoxicology; Risk assessment; Zinc oxide nanoparticles