Evaluation of the toxic potential of lead nitrate on transgenic Drosophila melanogaster (hsp-70 lac Z) Bg9

Abstract Lead is a well-known environmental toxicant that induces cellular damage through oxidative stress and apoptosis. The present study evaluates the toxic effects of lead nitrate at four different concentrations i.e., 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, and 0.40 M on transgenic Drosophila melanogaster (hsp-70 lacZ) Bg 9 . The results revealed a dose-dependent increase in oxidative stress markers indicated by elevated levels of reactive oxygen species along with a decline in antioxidant defense systems. Furthermore, apoptotic markers (caspase-3 and 9) showed a significant increase in the activity suggesting the activation of programmed cell death pathways. This study highlights the utility of Drosophila as an alternative model to higher animals for investigating the mechanisms associated with heavy metal toxicity.