Paulose,C S; Amee,Krishnakumar; Anu, Joseph(Department of Biotechnology, 2007)
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Abstract:
Neuroscience is the study of'tbe ne rvous system , including the i - ; . in, spinal
cord and peripheral nerves . Neurons are the basic cells of the brain and
nervous system which exerts its functional role through various
neurotransmitters and receptor systems . The activity of a nen ren depends
on the balance between the number of excitatory and inhibito r y processes
affecting it, both processes occurring individually and sin ,tlte-' ,ieously. The
functional bal,ince of different neurotransmitters such as Acct >>lcholine
(Ach), Dopamine (DA), Serotonin (5-1-17), Nor epinepbri,te (N.1 j,
Epinephrine (LPI), Glutamate and Gamma amino butyric acid (GA BA)
regulates the growth , division and other vital functions ofa normal cell /
organisin (Sudha, 1 998). The micro-environ ; nertt of the cell is controlled
/ the macro-environment that surrounds the individual. Any change in
the cell environment causes imbalance in cell homeostasis and f,ntction.
Pollution is a significant cause of imbalance caused iii the inacYcenvironment.
Interaction with polluted environments can have an adverse
impact on the health of humans. The alarming rise in enviromilmieil
cont.iniin :rtion has been linked to rises in levels of pesticides, ndltstr al
effluents, domestic Waste, car exhausts and other anthropogenic activities.
Persistent exposures to contaminant cause a negative imp,-, on brain
health and development . Pollution also causes a change in the
neurotransmitters and their receptor function leading to earl.;' recurrence
of neurodcge,terative disorders such as flypoxia , Alzbeimers's and
Huntington 's disease early in life.
Present study consists the quantization of specific metals-- Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu observed in the experimental bivalve,
Villorita species. Bivalve specimens were collected seasonally from the identified three hot spots of Vembanad Lake. Soft
tissue concentrations of metals are very sensitive in reflecting changes in the ambient environment and hence important in
assessing the environmental quality. Concentrations of Zn in bivalves were fairly high compared to other metals. All the
stations showed a maximum concentration during premonsoon and minimum during the other two seasons. Levels of Pb,
Cu, Zn, Cd and Cr are between 0-6.17mg/kg, 0-17.224mg/kg, 1.916-255.163mg/kg, 0.325-4.133mg/kg, and 0-15.233mg/kg
respectively
Description:
Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences
Vol. 40 (3), June 2011, pp 424-429