Pharmaceuticals are not currently tested for trans-generational and epigenetic side effects. Therefore, research and data in that area are limited. Recently, invertebrates such as insects have been suggested for this purpose as more ethically acceptable. We used the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, as a model to screen for the effect of a psychoactive drug on fitness parameters. We measured beetle survival in diets supplemented with different concentrations of the drug valproic acid (VPA), which is a histone deacetylase inhibitor. VPA is a commonly prescribed psychoactive drug used in the treatment of migraines and epilepsy. VPA is known to be a teratogen. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of exposure to this drug on fecundity, viability, survival and behavior of beetles and their progeny. VPA administered to vertebrate models have similar effects to those we observed in T. castaneum, indicating that this beetle may be suitable as an alternative model to screen for the epigenetic effect of drugs. T. castaneum.
