Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Comparative studies on the lysosomal lability index of three animals belonging to different phyla

Volume 53 Issue 1

L. P. Rema and Babu Philip

Abstract

Lysosomes are sensitive to environmental stresses.Lysosomal membrane stability measured using lysosomal enzyme release assay (LERA) and expressed in terms of lysosomal lability index is employed as an early warning system for detection of disturbances in the surrounding environment. In the present study, lysosomal membrane stability of animals belonging to different phyla namely, Rattus norwegicus (mammal), Oreochromis mossambicus (fish), and Sunetta scripta (mollusc) was determined using LERA technique. Results show that lysosomal lability index is high for Sunetta scripta and low for Rattus norwegicus. The data obtained confirm that molluscs are sentinel organisms. In higher animals, higher stability of lysosomal membrane is noticed.

Keywords

Lysosomal enzyme release assay, sentinel organism, lysosomal lability index

Date : 02-09-2011