Structural alterations accompanying acute and chronic toxicity of heavy metal exposure in hepatopancreas of green mussel Perna viridis (Class-Pelycypoda)

The hepatopancreas of Perna viridis exposed to various concentrations of co pper and mercury were fixed in Bouin's fluid and stained using Tripple Mall ory's stain. Structural alterations noted varied from-vacuolisation in cell s in various degrees, enlargement of lumen following atrophy of cells linin g the digestive tubules, disintegration of collageneous and muscular layer and enlargement of cell volume leading to decrease in number of cells/unit area. Another notable feature was the dibasic nature of mercury irrespectiv e of period of exposure. Results of this experiment indicate that exposure of these animals to low levels of heavy metal pollutants irrespective of th e time period can produce very serious damages at cellular level which can topple the normal physiological functioning of the cells.