Characterization of female reproductive disturbances post-traumatic injury in Drosophila melanogaster

Traumatic injuries (TIs) from intimate partner violence, vehicular collisions, high-impact sports, and even mundane activities can be fatal. However, survivors of TIs can have pathophysiological disturbances post-injury, including neurodegenerative diseases, mental illness, and metabolic disorders.Reproductive issues are a known consequence of TI especially in women, however this has remained poorly understood. Drosophila melanogaster has recently emerged as a stellar model of TI, however reproductive consequences have not been reported. Using the Drosophila model, we find reproductive consequences in the form of decreased egg laying and the retention of mature egg chambers mimicking issues in ovulation. These findings indicate that reproductive consequences of TI are conserved between Drosophila and humans.