Abstract
Histopathological studies would help in evaluating the extent of damage caused to the tissues under stress. Hence, in the present study an attempt has been made to observe the structural changes in the hepatopancreas and foot of the mussel Lamellidens marginalis exposed to acute (11.0mg/L) and subacute (1.10mg/L) concentrations of cadmium. The changes are observed at day 1 and day 3 in acute concentration and day 10 and 30 in subacute concentration, one at short- term and the other at long-term exposure. In hepatopancreas enlargement of intertubular area, cell necrosis and the formation of sinuses and in foot loss of connective tissue, vacuolization, disarrayed fibres and nuclear pyknosis were seen on exposure to acute concentration of cadmium at day 1. Similar changes with mild degree of recovery were observed at day 3. In subacute concentration some degenerative changes like mild tubular atrophy and cell necrosis in hepatopancreas and fibrillation, intermuscular oedema and pyknotic nuclei in foot of mussel were observed at day 10, however, at day 30 the tissues appeared more or less similar to those of controls with insignificant changes.