Impact of Tobacco Smoke Exposure on Male Fertility: An In Vivo Study Using Drosophila melanogaster

Tobacco smoke has been consistently associated with impaired spermatozoa quality in men, including decreased concentration, motility, and increased morphological abnormalities. Key tobacco-related toxins such as nicotine and cadmium induce oxidative stress, leading to DNA damage in germ cells. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of tobacco smoke exposure on male fertility using <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> as an in vivo model. Fertility, fecundity, parental toxicity, lifespan, and spermatozoa morphology were assessed in two strains: the wild-type <i>Oregon K</i> and the DNA repair-deficient <i>mus308</i>. Males were exposed to whole-tobacco smoke in a controlled environment for periods of 0, 1 and 7 min. Tobacco smoke exposure reduced fertility, fecundity, and offspring longevity in both strains. Additionally, spermatozoa from <i>mus308</i> males exhibited a higher frequency of morphological abnormalities. These findings demonstrate the detrimental impact of tobacco smoke on male reproductive function and suggest increased vulnerability in organisms with impaired DNA repair capacity.