الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract The potential impacts of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on aquatic ecosystems have attracted special attention due to their unique properties. The present investigation was designed to evaluate the possible mechanisms of ecotoxicological effects of ZnO NPs on the freshwater snails Biomphalaria alexandrina. ZnO NPs showed molluscicidal activity against B. alexandrina snails and the LC50 was 145 æg/ml. Exposure of snails to the sublethal concentrations 7 and 35 æg/ml of ZnO NPs for three consecutive weeks significantly induced malondialdehyde and nitric oxide with concomitant decreases in reduced glutathione and glutathione-S-transferase levels in the hemolymph and soft tissues of the treated snails |