Protective Effects of Taurine on Imidacloprid-Induced DNA Damage and Reproductive Performance in The Drosophila melanogaster Model

Abstract

Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid group insecticide and is widely used in veterinary medicine for the control ofpests such as lice and fleas in domestic animals. Insecticides are known that they induce toxic effects on livingorganism, causing oxidative stress and DNA damage. Taurine plays a role in many physiological and biochemicalfunctions and provides an antioxidant effect by stabilization of biological membranes. This study investigated theeffect of imidacloprid on DNA damage and reproductive performance and the possible protective effect oftaurine in Drosophila melanogasters. Imidacloprid (0.6 µM) alone or in combination with taurine (1, 2 ve 3 mM) weregiven to broths for 20 days. The results of the study showed that imidacloprid application decreased reproductiveperformance and increased DNA damage in groups, whereas these effects decreased with taurine administration.In conclusion, it was determined that the adverse effects of imidacloprid regarding DNA and reproductiveperformance in Drosophila melanogasters were prevented by taurine application.