Aliphatic alcohols are among the factors of anthropogenic pollution of aquatic ecosystems. Structural changes in the hepatopancreas of pulmonate freshwater mollusks under their exposure remain insufficiently studied. In this work, a comparative assessment of morphological changes in the hepatopancreas of the ramshorn snail (Planorbarius corneus L.) and the great pond snail (Lymnaea stagnalis L.) was performed following acute exposure to aliphatic alcohols with different carbon chain lengths (C1–C6).

The experiment involved a one-hour exposure to solutions of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol-1, and hexanol-1, followed by a 48-hour recovery period. The degree of morphological changes in the hepatopancreas was found to depend on the concentration and type of alcohol. The most pronounced changes were observed following exposure to isopropanol, butanol-1, and hexanol-1. The ramshorn snail was more resistant to alcohol exposure and secreted more mucus, whereas in the great pond snail ethanol stimulated reproductive activity.

The obtained results confirm the high sensitivity of the hepatopancreas of freshwater mollusks to aliphatic alcohols. This justifies the use of morphological changes in the hepatopancreas as a biomarker for the ecotoxicological monitoring of aquatic ecosystems.

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