THE EFFECT OF METHYLPARATHION ON CHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN COCKLE (ANADARA GRANOSA L.) MUSCLE TISSUES

Abstract

The effect of methylparathion on cholinesterase activity in foot muscle tissues of cockle were
evaluated. Ninety - five healthy cockle were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group was exposed to 10 ppb of methylparathion for 90 hours. Measurements of cholinesterase activity revealed increasing enzyme activity in foot muscle (p < 0.05) in the exposed animals while clinical observations showed no differences between the groups. The results indicate that methylparathion affects the observed activity of cholinesterase in cockle. However, it should be noted that the data do not correlate with those of previous studies reported in other aquatic animal species.