PgmNr D1387: Effects of Antimalarial Drugs on Motor and Behavioural Programs in Drosophila melanogaster.

Authors:
A. A. Adedeji; E. Kwikiriza; M. Vicente-Crespo


Institutes
Kampala International University- Western Campus, Ishaka, Bushenyi, UG.


Keyword: other ( Antimalarial drugs, motor, behaviour, Drosophila )

Abstract:

Background:  Antimalarial drugs, used for the control and prevention of malaria infection, affect other parts of the human body to alter certain physiological functions.  The neurons form discrete circuits that mediate complex behaviours including circadian rhythms, sleep, learning and memory, courtship, feeding, aggression, grooming, and flight navigation. However, little is known of how the use of antimalarial drugs affects these physiological processes that defines wellness. In the present study, we evaluate the effects of antimalarial drugs on the motor and behavior program activities using Drosophila melanogaster fly model.

Materials and Methods:  Anti-malarial drugs (fansidar, chloroquine, artesunate, mefloquine and quinine) were administered to Drosophila melanogaster (wildtype) flies on filter paper. The locomotion (climbing), feeding and grooming-aggression assays were performed according to standard methods. The climbing performance indices, feeding events and aggressive presentations were determined.  The findings were analyzed and P< 0.05 was taken as significant.

Results:  The mean performance indices for locomotion were high (>0.6) in all flies treated with the antimalarial drugs but highest (1.0) in female Drosophila flies treated with Artesunate and lowest (0.31) in male flies treated with mefloquine. Quinine and mefloquine treated flies had suppressed aggression and grooming behavior compared to untreated flies.  The artesunate treated flies had highest indices for aggression and grooming performance (P=0.021), In all drugs treated groups, female flies had increased feeding rate (P = 0.0001) than male flies. The mean feeding times was 47.25 ± 26.08 minutes and significantly shorter in artesunate treated group (46.07 ± 26.78 min).

Conclusion:  The findings from this study provide preliminary information that antimalarial drugs do not only act on parasite but may alter locomotion, feeding, aggression and grooming behaviours in treated individuals. More studies are required to elucidate on molecular basis for these findings using available Drosophila melanogatser genetic tools.