R.D. Chaudhari’s scientific contributions

An attempt has been made to study the changes induced by the sublethal concentration (1/5th of LC50) of monocrotophos in the total protein content in various reproductive organs of the terrestrial snail, Cerastus moussonianus. After exposing the snails, for 7 and 14 days to monocrotophos, the variations in the total protein content of Ovotestis, Albumen and Prostate glands were studied in three different seasons viz., pre-reproductive, reproductive and post-reproductive. The total protein content of the ovotestis was found to be decreased in all the three seasons after exposure to 7 and 14 days. The per cent depletion in 7 days exposed snails was found tobe -8.09%, -9.94% and -7.07% while that of 14 days was -12.57%, -19.30% and -11.58% in pre-reproductive, reproductive and post-reproductive periods respectively. There was an overall decrease in the total proteins level of the albumen gland during different reproductive periods in the snails exposed for 7 and 14 days being -5.06%, -11.16% and -13.86% in 7 days exposure and -16.20%, -17.24% and -22.12% in 14 days while that of prostate gland was -12.17%, -10.50% and -16.85% and -24.80%, -17.96% and -13.81% in 7 and 14 days in pre-reproductive, reproductive and post-reproductive periods respectively.