Exposure to heavy metals from Chaohu Lake impairs motor ability and reproductive fitness in Drosophila.

Chaohu Lake, a vital freshwater resource for surrounding communities, faces environmental stress due to industrial and mining activities, leading to metal contamination. However, the potential ecotoxicological effects of these metals remain unclear. To address this knowledge gap, we analyzed spatial metal distributions in the lake and developed a Drosophila model exposed to region-specific raw water samples. Our results revealed significantly elevated total metal levels in the western region compared to other areas. Male Drosophila exposed to western raw water exhibited >20% reduced climbing ability and reproductive deficits, suggesting metals as likely contributors to these adverse effects. Notably, the primary characteristics of the observed reproductive dysfunction included a >20% reduction in motor activity and a more than twofold increase in brain aging in offspring following paternal exposure to western water. Comparative analysis with China’s surface water standards identified barium (Ba), molybdenum (Mo), and cadmium (Cd) as key metals in the western region. Crucially, paternal exposure to these metals alone recapitulated the offspring’s motor decline and brain aging. We conclude that Ba, Mo, and Cd may be the key metals responsible for Chaohu Lake water-induced paternal motor/reproductive dysfunction and impaired offspring motor performance, with brain senescence potentially mediating the offspring’s motor deficits.