Abstract: Objective: To probe the suitable time and temperature for keeping alive of Ruditapes philippinarum in daily life, and to make clear the mechanism of cell apoptosis during keepind-alive. Methods: Freshness and DNA damage were measured by K-value assay and single-cell gel electrophoresis after different time away from water at 4 ℃ and 25 ℃ respectively. Moreover, the expression of Bax were observed by means of immunohistochemical assay. Results: K-values are 64.71% and 65.18% away from water for 24 h at 4 ℃ and for 6 h at 25 ℃ respectively. Serious DNA damage is already observed. The trailing rates, tail length, and percentage content of tail DNA at 4 ℃ away from water for 24 h are 90.55%, 420.61±207.62μm and 56.07% ± 22.46% respectively. Those at 25 ℃ away from water for 6 h are 91.66%, 315.07±159.84μm and 38.19%±15.25% respectively. The expression of Bcl-2 in pelecypedium away from water at 25 ℃ for 2 h, 4 h, 6 h decreases significantly (p< 0.01). And that in visceral mass for 4 h, 6 h at 25 ℃ and 12 h, 24 h at 4 ℃ decreases significantly (p<0.05).

Key words: freshness, cell apotosis, DNA damage