Study of Cells of Hepatopancreas of Bellamya bengalensis and Pila sp. collected from some areas of Nadia District of West Bengal

Cells of hepatopancreas are useful tool for assessing the toxicity of pollutants on aquatic invertebrates. The evaluation of the acute toxicity of a particular pollutant to cells of molluscan snail in terms of cell death in a laboratory is necessary. Molluscs' hepatopancreas (detoxification organ) are crucial for monitoring aquatic environmental health. The present study showed cells from hepatopancreas in molluscs collected from the selected sites of Nadia District associated with human habitats, human effluents and agricultural fields were necrotic. The average number of pyknotic cells from the specimens collected from the sites associated with human effluents and agricultural fields was increased significantly (P-Value < 0.05). Membrane blebbing and membrane rupture of these cells indicated apoptosis or necrosis like features. The mean percentage of Trypan Blue (TB) positive dead cells was also significantly increased in the specimens collected from sites associated with human effluents and agricultural fields (P-Value < 0.05). The hepatopancreas plays a significant role in detoxifying harmful substances and excreting waste products in molluscs. Therefore, studies of the hepatopancreas of molluscs are especially interesting because this organ can be useful in ecotoxicology research.