Heavy metal induced biochemical alterations in different tissues of three freshwater bivalve species from gangapur reservoir in Nasik (MS)

The present study deals with the effect of heavy metals Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd on the total protein, DNA and RNA content from different soft body tissues like mantle, gills, digestive glands and whole soft body tissue of bivalves species, Lamellidens corrianus, Lamellidens marginalis and Parreysia cylindrical collected seasonally (summer, monsoon and winter seasons) from Gangapur reservoir during November 2010 to October 2011. In the present study results revealed highest concentrations of heavy metals Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd during summer season in surface water and three bivalve species sampled from gangapur reservoir. The results also revealed the lowest protein, DNA and RNA concentrations in different soft body tissues in three species of bivalves sampled during summer season, might be due to bivalves were exposed to higher concentration of heavy metals in summer than winter and monsoon seasons.