The effect of heavy metals on processes of lipid peroxidation in microsomal membranes from the hepatopancreas of the bivalve mollusc mizuhopecten yessoensis

1. Studies were performed regarding the effects of cadmium and copper on the lipid peroxide contents and on the initial rates of NADPH-dependent and Fe-ascorbic acid-dependent lipid peroxidation in the microsomes of hepatopancreas of the scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis exposed to these pollutants for 3 weeks.2. The results demonstrated that copper accumulation in hepatopancreas cells was accompanied by a significant increase in hydroperoxide and malondialdehyde contents in microsomal membranes, and by alteration in the both enzymic and non-enzymic lipid peroxidation. Cadmium didn't appear to potentiate lipid peroxidation processes in mollusc tissues.3. Possible reasons for different effects of these metals on lipid peroxidation processes are discussed.