Abstract:
The objectives of this research were to study the effects of tributyltin (TBT) on
the glutathione (GSH) production and lipid peroxidation (Malondialdehyde (MDA)
concentration) in Littoraria melanostoma. L. melanostoma were colleted from the
mangrove at Khlong-Kone District, Samut-Songkram Province, Thailand. After
acclimatization, the periwinkles were sexed and treated with various TBT
concentrations (5, 10 and 20 TBT ng/l as Sn) for 7 days for GSH concentration and
lipid peroxidation analysis. The GSH and MDA concentrations were investigated in
gill and posterior parts (digestive gland, stomach and gonad) of male and female.
The field study found that there was no significant difference between GSH
concentrations and lipid peroxidations of both male and female in each organ.
However, there was a significant difference between GSH concentrations in various
organs.
In the laboratory study, generally, there was no significant difference of GSH
concentrations among various TBT concentrations. However, the patterns of male
and female GSH concentration change in the posterior part in the control and 5 TBT
ng/l as Sn were similar. Also, those of gill, in the control, 5 and 20 TBT ng/l as Sn
were similar. Besides, the high correlations of lipid peroxidation to TBT
concentration of the male and female posterior parts, and male and female gills were
0.674, 0.709, 0.720 and 0.735, respectively.
These studies suggested that GSH can be used only as the monitoring factor on
the total health of mollusks and water assessment because of its various specificity
and sensitivity on xenophobic substances. Meanwhile, lipid peroxidation may be a
good monitoring factor for detecting the effect of TBT