Detection Of Micronuclei In Gill Cells And Haemocytes Of Fresh Water Snails Exposed To Mercuric Chloride

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the toxic potential of the heavy metal adequately present in agro-industrial effluents viz. mercury using in vivo micronucleus assay in a fresh water snail, Bellamya bengalensis (2n=22). Gill cells and haemocytes of the mollusc species were subjected to four sub-lethal concentrations of heavy metal compound HgCl2 (4.0µg/l, 8.0µg/l, 16.0µg/l, 32.0µg/l) for 24, 48, 72 and 96h of exposure periods. Significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei was observed in molluscs exposed to the metal compound as compared to the control. These findings depicted the genotoxic potential of mercuric chloride by using sub-lethal concentrations on fresh water snails.