Behavioral changes in Drosophila males after travel to International Space Station. Part II. Larvae vs. Imago

Abstract

This study aimed to establish a comprehensive behavioral profile of male Drosophila after a space flight to the International Space Station (ISS). Climbing, locomotor activity, and courtship behavior were examined after a 7.5-day space mission in Drosophila males. Behavioral evaluations postflight conducted both on Drosophila males, which, aged 1–2 days, had been sent to the ISS, and on males, who underwent development from first instar larvae to early pupal stages under space flight conditions. The results revealed that imago space travel resulted in a lasting decline in performance across all behavioral tests for no less than 13 days after landing. The larval development of Drosophila males during space travel leads to unstable behavioral issues that nevertheless go on up to 21 days after landing in such fruit flies. Space experience affects Drosophila nervous system function and changes the operating mode of walk and song central pattern generators (CPG). Future research will answer the question of which molecular genetic alterations induced by space flight factors are responsible for lasting post-space flight nervous system and behavioral changes.