The influence of long-term intake of copper and chromium compounds on reproductive ability and development of @@iDrosophila melanogaster@

The aim of this work was to compare the effect of solitary and combined presence of copper (II) and chromium (VI) in food medium, on the reproductive ability and development of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We used copper (II) sulfate penta-hydrate (CuSO4x5H2O) and potassium-dichromate (K2Cr2O7), which were added at the same concentrations of 500mg/L to the food medium. The flies were exposed to the mentioned compounds during the two generations. The results of the research showed that the average number of adult offspring per one female of the flies exposed only to the influence of copper (II) sulfate or only to potassium-dichromate were on the control level. The flies cultured on the medium containing both tested compounds, had a significantly lower number of offspring compared to the control group (p