Influence of Atrazine and Roundup pesticides on biochemical and molecular aspects of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails

The excessive use of pesticides in agriculture has sparkled the interest of scientists in investigating the harmful effects of these compounds. The present study evaluates the pesticides Atrazine and Roundup (glyphosate) on biochemical and molecular aspects of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails. The results showed that LC10 of these two pesticides caused considerable reduction in survival rates and egg production of treated snails. Additionally, Atrazine proved to be more toxic to B. alexandrina snails than Roundup. In treated snails, glucose concentration (GL) in the hemolymph as well as lactate (LT) and free amino acid (FAA) in soft tissues of treated snails increased while glycogen (GN), pyruvate (PV), total protein (TP), nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) levels in snail's tissues decreased. The activities of glycogen phosphorylase (GP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR), succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and phosphatases (ACP and ALP) enzymes in homogenate of snail's tissues were reduced in response to the treatment with the two pesticides while lipid peroxide (LP) and transaminases (GOT and GPT) activity increased (P < 0.001). The changes in the number, position and intensity of DNA bands induced by pesticides may be attributed to the fact that pesticide can induce genotoxicity through DNA damage. It was concluded that the pollution of the aquatic environment by Atrazine and Roundup pesticides, would adversely affect the metabolism of the B. alexandrina snails, and have adverse effects on its reproduction. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.