Abstract :
The aim of the present study was to assess the glycogen content in different body parts i.e.
mantle, gill, gonad, hepatopancreas, siphon, foot, anterior adductor muscle and posterior adductor
muscle of freshwater bivalve mussel, Lamellidens marginalis exposed to lethal concentrations of
cadmium chloride after 96 hrs acute toxicity of exposure. The results showed that glycogen content
was significantly disturbed in all the body parts of Lamellidens marginalis studied after exposure to
cadmium chloride (LC0 & LC50). The disturbance in the glycogen level is one of the outstanding
biochemical lesions due to the action of cadmium. There is a significant decrease in glycogen profiles
in different body parts after exposure to lethal concentration of cadmium under stress conditions.
This might be due to increase in glycogenolysis by increase in phosphorylase enzyme activity and
elevation of succinate and pyruvate dehydrogenase leading to anaerobic metabolism during anoxic
stress conditions caused by toxicant. Hence, glycogen content as biomarker of cadmium stress in
bivalve mollusks can be used.
Keyword :
Aquatic environment, Cadmium, Glycogen, Lamellidens marginalis, Pollutants, Toxicity.