Influence of induced transpositional activity of P elements on age-dependent changes in the reproductive system and embryo survival of Drosophila melanogaster

The age-dependent change in the activity of P elements in the P-M genetic system was studied by parameters of the reproductive system (fertility, gonadal atrophy, ovarian reserve) and embryonic survival of Drosophila melanogaster. The transposition activity of P elements was controlled using tests for sterility and mutability of the sn[w] locus, the results of which showed a high mobilization of functional P sequences in all age groups. An increase in the activity of transposons with age was noted in dysgenic F1 individuals obtained from aging parents in inducing crosses, as well as in 60-day-old dysgenic offspring (according to the mutability of the sn[w] locus). It was shown that the effect of P-transpositions affected only on the viability of embryos, the profile of which decreased with the aging of their dysgenic F1 parents. On the contrary, the average fecundity of dysgenic females did not change with age and was at a low level compared to non-dysgenic females. An analysis of the obtained data suggests that the observed effects are based on different mechanisms of the biological action of aging and induced P-activity.