The Effects of Brain 770 on Sleep, Response Time, and Social Interaction in Drosophila melanogaster
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Authors
Ries, Sarah
Reese, Sorren
Date of Issue
2025-04-25
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Subject Keywords
Other Titles
Abstract
Homeopathic supplements have been used as an alternative to modern medicine for hundreds of years and have drastically increased in popularity within recent years. This marked increase is concerning given the lack of regulation by the Food and Drug Administration regarding the potential benefits and safety of these supplements. One such supplement, Brain-770, is advertised as a remedy for pineal gland calcification, which involves the accumulation of calcium deposits on the pineal gland. The pineal gland is involved in the regulation of the circadian rhythm through its production of melatonin and serotonin. Pineal gland calcification causes a downregulation of these hormones, resulting in a negatively altered circadian rhythm. The goal of this study was to observe the effect of Brain-770 on expression of the genes responsible for the production of melatonin (CRY1) and serotonin (5-HT1B), as well as on behaviors associated with the circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. It was hypothesized that melatonin and serotonin production would be increased in sleep-deprived flies treated with Brain-770 compared to control sleep-deprived flies. Additionally, it was hypothesized that flies treated with Brain-770 would experience better sleep, enhanced social interactions, and improved reaction times compared to control flies. The expression of CRY1 and 5-HT1B was quantified using RT-qPCR, and behavioral assays were conducted to observe sleep, social interactions, and reaction times. The results of this study show that there was no significant difference in melatonin and serotonin production or in sleep, social interaction, and reaction time behaviors between Brain-770-treated flies and control flies.