23. Effects of Methylparaben on fertility and lifespan in an experimental drosophila melanogaster model
Main Article Content
Abstract
Methylparaben is an additive used for thickening, moisturizing, emulsifying, coloring, and preservation. Previous research has shown that parabens have a limited affinity for estrogen receptors and suggest that this chemical may contribute to endocrine abnormalities. This study investigated the effects of methylparaben on fertility and health using a fruit fly model. Compared to unexposed controls, flies exposed to methylparaben at a concentration of 1% exhibited a shorter lifetime, with a 13.8% decrease in females and 19.2% in males. Additionally, 0.1% methylparaben concentration resulted in lower fertility by 40.74% compared to the control group. Further investigation of the gene expression of EcR and ERR at methylparaben concentrations of 0.02%, 0.1%, and 0.2% revealed that EcR increased from day 10 to day 30. In contrast, ERR increased initially at day ten and then decreased significantly at days 20 and 30 compared to the control group. These findings demonstrated that methylparaben had adverse effects on fruit flies, including shortened longevity and altered reproductive hormone receptors. Further research is needed to evaluate the implications of additives on human health.
Article Details
Keywords
Methylparaben, Drosophila melanogaster, additive
References
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