Abstract
The aquatic ecosystems are converting into the highly contaminated site due to environmental pollutants. The present study explores the oxidative stress and toxic potential of lead nitrate in freshwater snail Lymnaea luteola (L. luteola) L. The snails were exposed to an environmentally relevant concentration of lead nitrate for 24 and 96h. Later exposure to lead nitrate (0, 10, 20 and 40 mu g/mL) to the freshwater snail, the level of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide (NO) were increased and glutathione, glutathione-S-transferase were decreased. Lead-nitrate-induced haemocyte cell death and it was observed by using Annexin-V FITC/PI through a flow cytometer. DNA damage in haemocyte cells was measured at above doses of lead-nitrate exposure for 24 and 96h and it was compared to the untreated snail. Average tail DNA (%) and olive tail moment in single-cell gel test were increased dose and duration fashion and maximum DNA damage was measured at 96h. These results indicate the potential toxicity and genotoxicity of lead nitrate in acute treatment to L. luteola and single-cell gel test are the assay for rapid detection of genetic effects.