Modeling Chronic Arsenic Toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster: Insights into Oxidative Stress, Neurotoxicity, and Carcinogenesis

Arsenic, a pervasive environmental toxin, is implicated in carcinogenesis, neurotoxicity, and metabolic disorders. This study investigates chronic sodium arsenite toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster, evaluating its impact on survival, oxidative stress, tissue integrity, and gene expression to model neurotoxicity and carcinogenesis. Flies were exposed to graded concentrations of sodium arsenite (0.03–0.14 mM) over 21 days. We assessed survival rates, oxidative stress biomarkers, gene expression, and histological changes in key tissues including the brain, gastrointestinal tract, and fat body. Results revealed dose-dependent reductions in survival, elevated oxidative stress markers, and significant tissue damage. Notably, tumor-like growths and disrupted enterocyte architecture were observed, alongside altered expression of genes such as Ras, p53, SOD1, and CncC. These findings underscore the utility of Drosophila as a translational model for studying arsenic-induced pathologies and provide mechanistic insights into its role in disease development.