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Updated: May 13, 2026
Drosophila melanogaster Larva Injection Protocol
Published on: October 19, 2021
Effects of oral morphine on the larvae, pupae and imago development in Drosophila melanogaster
Elaheh Tekieh1, Masoomeh Kazemi, Leila Dehghani
11. Neuroscience Research Center, Baqyiatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Objective:
Previous studies, focusing on the effects of abused drugs, have used mice or rats as the main animal models; the present study tries to introduce a simple animal model. For this propose, we investigated the effects of oral morphine consumption by parents on the development of larvae, pupae and imago in Drosophila Melanogaster (D. Melanogaster).
Materials And Methods:
In this experimental study, twenty male and 20 female D. Melanogaster pupae were housed in test tubes with banana (5 pupae /tube).). Male and female groups each were divided into three experimental group and one control group, which were maintained at 25℃. Morphine (0.2, 0.02, 0.002 mg/ml) was added into the test tubes of the experimental groups. The control group maintained at morphine-free test tube. The male and female groups with the same treatment were coupled and then female fertilization, egg deposit, larval, pupae and imago stages were studied macro and microscopically. The SPSS software (version 9.01) was used for statistical evaluations.
Results:
In the experimental groups, in the larvae stage, both increase and decrease of length and surface area in the pupae stage were observed. The number of larvae pupae, and imago was reduced in the experimental groups.
Conclusion:
The study showed that oral morphine consumption by parents may affect the development of larvae, pupation and imago stages in D. Melanogaster. The results also showed that D. Melanogaster may be a reliable animal model to study on the concerns about abused drugs especially those with opioids.
Insights
Parental exposure to morphine in Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) negatively impacted offspring development, reducing larvae, pupae, and imago counts. This suggests fruit flies are a viable model for studying opioid drug effects.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Traditional animal models for drug abuse research, such as mice and rats, are complex and costly.
- There is a need for simpler, more accessible animal models to study the effects of abused drugs.
- Opioid drugs, like morphine, have significant public health implications requiring further research into their developmental toxicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of parental oral morphine consumption on the developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies).
- To evaluate the potential of Drosophila melanogaster as a simple animal model for studying the developmental impacts of abused drugs, particularly opioids.
Main Methods:
- Drosophila melanogaster pupae were exposed to varying concentrations of morphine (0.2, 0.02, 0.002 mg/ml) via oral consumption by parent flies.
- Developmental parameters including fertilization, egg laying, larval growth, pupation, and imago formation were assessed macroscopically and microscopically.
- Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software to evaluate the observed effects.
Main Results:
- Parental morphine consumption led to observable changes in larval length and surface area.
- A reduction in the number of larvae, pupae, and imago was noted in offspring from morphine-exposed parent flies compared to the control group.
- Developmental disruptions were evident across larval, pupal, and imago stages.
Conclusions:
- Parental oral morphine intake can adversely affect the developmental trajectory of Drosophila melanogaster offspring.
- Drosophila melanogaster demonstrates potential as a reliable and simple model organism for investigating the developmental consequences of opioid exposure.
- This study supports the utility of fruit flies in preclinical research concerning the effects of addictive substances.
