Cypermethrin Induced Histological Alterations in Estuarine Clam, Meretrix meretrix (Linn.)

Cypermethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid class of insecticide. Toxic effects of cypermethrin were explored by selecting Meretrix meretrix as an animal model. After acute (96 hours) exposure to Cypermethrin, tissues of Meretrix meretrix like gill, mantle, foot, hepatopancreas, male gonad and female gonad, were investigated for histological alterations. Pesticide stress showed histological changes, deterioration of tissue and damage at cellular and subcellular levels. There was a remarkable damage in all tissues. Gills showed damage in epithelial cells and connective tissue in LC₅₀ group. Mantle of clams from LC₀ group showed considerable damage to the dorsal as well as ventral epithelium, connective tissues and blood spaces. Hepatopancreas of clams from LC₅₀ group showed swelling of tubules. Male gonad showed severe damage; follicle wall was ruptured; sperms were clumped in a mass. Female gonad showed deterioration of ooplasmic material. LC₅₀ group showed more damage than LC₀ group. Foot of LC₅₀ group showed significant damage i.e., folding of marginal epidermis, shrinkage of epidermis, loss of connective tissues took lace as compared to control group of the clam. Theses histological changes were more prominent in gill and hepatopancreas as compared to other tissues.