Evaluation of the effects of venlafaxine on larval viability and adult lifespan of drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Depressive disorders are generally one of the most common diseases of today, occurring genetically, biologically, sociologically and environmentally. In recent years, venlafaxine, an antidepressant belonging to the serotonin-nor-epinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) group, has been widely used, especially for the treatment of analgesic symptoms, major depressive disorder and anxiety. In this study, the effects of venlafaxine on larval viability and longevity in adult female and male populations of Drosophila melanogaster Oregon-R, were investigated for the first time as a function of the different dose-duration interaction. Accordingly, negative control (NC), solvent control (SC) and four different concentrations of venlafaxine, 1 mg/mL, 2 mg/mL, 4 mg/mL and 8 mg/mL, were applied to larvae and adult individuals. When the experimental results were analysed, it was found that the survival rate of larvae decreased and the maximum and average life expectancy of adult females and males decreased depending on the dose increase. It was also found that different malformations occurred in the larvae and adults in the dose groups. As a result, when the data on larval survival and average and maximum lifespan due to the dose increase in the treatment groups were compared with the negative control group, the difference between the groups was determined to be statistically significant.