Replicating Trauma in Drosophila Melanogaster to See Effects on Offspring Behavior

Overview

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a form of brain dysfunction caused by an external force. It is anticipated that as global violence increases, more people will experience TBIs. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may also arise from these events. An experiment was conducted to see whether PTSD and TBI in pregnant Drosophila melanogaster could result in learning problems in the offspring. Additionally, mutants were studied to evaluate consequences of variations in the parents' serotonin or cortisol levels. Memory, motor abilities, social interaction, serotonin, and cortisol levels were assessed in offspring of female flies who were untreated, inflicted with TBI, or inflicted with TBI with PTSD. It was discovered that pregnant flies with TBI had the worst memory, social interaction, and increased neurotransmitters, while offspring from TBI and PTSD-inflicted flies had results similar to the control. Elevated levels of serotonin were associated with TBI only, while elevated levels of cortisol were also found in flies with TBI only. A possible explanation for this may be that the female flies suffered amnesia from the head trauma, which occurs in many patients with PTSD, and therefore did not pass on as much serotonin and cortisol to their offspring. This has direct applications to people who have had an injury associated with TBI or PTSD, and worry about the effects on their own children. Further research should be conducted to determine whether the severity of the TBI (mild, moderate, or severe) also has an impact on the behavior of the offspring.