Dzybenko O. Impact of ionizing radiation on cytogenetical and hematological characteristics of the pond snail (Lymnaea stagnalis L.).

The thesis is devoted to research of features of radioactive contamination, estimation of the dose rates, and also analysis of cytogenetical, hematological and morphometric characteristics of the pond snail (Lymnaea stagnalis L.) in water bodies within the Chernobyl exclusion zone (ChEZ) and in conditions of the acute experimental irradiation. Cytogenetical researches of the pond snail in reservoirs of the ChEZ testify to high level of chromosome aberrations in embryo tissues. Rate of chromosome aberration in mollusks, that habitat in stagnant water bodies of the ChEZ in 5-10 times exceeds the spontaneous mutagenesis level for aquatic species and can be display of the radiation-induced genetic instability. The analysis of mantle liquid composition of the pond snails in reservoirs of the ChEZ testifies about the substantial change of composition of mollusks hemolymph from the most contaminated lakes, conditioned by growth of dead and phagocytic cells and reduction of young amebocytes amount.