OIL EFFLUENT EXPOSURE INDUCED BIOCHEMICAL MODULATIONS IN SUBCELLULAR / TISSUES (CYTOSOL,MICROSOMES) OF FOOT, GILL AND DIGESTIVE GLANDS OF LAMELLIDENS MARGINALIS.

Sub-cellular fractions (cytosolic and microsomal) were prepared from the tissues (foot, gill and digestive gland) of freshwater mussel Lamellidens marginalis and were scrutinized to investigate the modulation of biochemical components (protein, carbohydrate and lipids) after exposure of sub-lethal concentrations of 1/4th (11.88 ppt) and 1/10th (8.55 ppt) of 96-hr LC 50 of oil effluent, and recovery period (depuration-without oil effluent) after seven days interval i.e., 1st, 8th, 15th 22nd and 30th days. At the end of 30th day, biochemical components in both exposure and depuration periods, were analysed from the tissues of mussels. The accumulation of oil effluent in the tissues gradually increased, when exposed to both sub-lethal concentrations of oil effluent and significantly and gradually decreased levels of protein, carbohydrate and lipid contents in the sub-cellular tissues of mussels were observed. During recovery period (without adding oil effluent), all depleted biochemical contents were recovered, increased, gradually, significantly from 30th day to Ist day (P<0.05) and one-way ANOVA showed progressive positive regression coefficient values (P<0.05) in all days. The enhanced and recovered levels of biochemical components in oil-exposed mussels demonstrate a well-established defense mechanism in mollusc, and this response offers the possibility of use as a biomarker for the early detection of oil pollution.