The
biometals iron (Fe),
manganese (Mn) and
copper (Cu) have been associated to
Parkinson's disease (PD) and
Parkinsonism. In this work, we report for the first time that acute (15 mM for up to 5 days) or chronic (0.5 mM for up to 15 days) Fe, Mn and Cu exposure significantly reduced life span and locomotor activity (i.e. climbing capabilities) in Drosophila melanogaster. It is shown that the concentration of those
biometals dramatically increase in Drosophila's brain acutely or chronically fed with
metal. We demonstrate that the
metal accumulation in the fly's head is associated with the neurodegeneration of several dopaminergic neuronal clusters. Interestingly, it is found that the PPL2ab DAergic neuronal cluster was erode by the three metals in acute and chronic
metal exposure and the PPL3 DAergic cluster was also erode by the three metals but in acute
metal exposure only. Furthermore, we found that the
chelator desferoxamine,
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and
D: -penicillamine were able to protect but not rescue D. melanogaster against
metal intoxication. Taken together these data suggest that
iron,
manganese and
copper are capable to destroy DAergic neurons in the fly's brain, thereby impairing their movement capabilities. This work provides for the first time
metal-induced Parkinson-like symptoms in D. melanogaster. Understanding therefore the effects of
biometals in the Drosophila model may provide insights into the toxic effect of
metal ions and more effective therapeutic approaches to
Parkinsonism.