Study of Cellular Markers in Fresh Water Mollusc, Bellamya bengalensis

Molluscs are invertebrates with the capacity to act as bio-indicators of water pollution. Bioaccumulation of pollutants occurs in different organ such as gills, digestive glands, mantle, foot but the digestive gland in mollusc is considered as a target organ for detoxification. The using of multiple biomarkers (biochemical, molecular, cellular and histological) are considered valuable tool in determination of effects of pollutants. Contamination of aquatic ecosystem by pesticides, metals, organic compounds has been posing an ecotoxicological threat. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the role of cellular biomarkers identification in pollution detection. In the present work we have emphasized on hemocytes, foot cells and digestive gland cells and histological analysis. Freshwater mollusc Bellamya bengalensis were manually collected from different aquatic bodies of Nadia district of West Bengal. Some aquatic bodies were not associated with human habitats, human effluents and agricultural fields (sites A). Some aquatic bodies were associated with human habitats, human effluents and agricultural fields (sites B). Cell isolation, histological sections and staining were performed. Paraptosis and necrosis like features of cells were noted in site B group as compared to site A group of snails. Collection sites B may pollute the environment and affect aquatic mollusc due to anthropogenic activities. The present results corroborate with the findings in various gastropod snails by many scientists. Hemocyte function, cell death/apoptosis of foot cells, digestive glands cells have been claimed as markers of toxicity of different chemical compounds. Monitoring the health of aquatic ecosystems through molluscan cellular marker has been gaining special attention in recent researches.