Objective: To study the seasonal changes of glucose levels per unit soft tissue of Oncomelania hupensis.
Methods: O. hupensis snails were collected from the beach of the Qingyi River in Wuhu City, Anhui Province from August 2012 to July 2013. They were kept in minus 80 degrees C refrigerator immediately. The male snails were distinguished from female, and their soft tissues were collected separately after crushing their shells. The hexokinase method was used to measure the glucose concentrations, and the results were analyzed statistically.
Results: The contents of glucose decreased from March to July. The lowest glucose content in the female was 1.87 μg/mg in March, and that in male was 3.70 μg/mg in July. Both of them increased from August and reached peak levels in September (Female = 57.38 μg/mg, male = 44.39 μg/mg), and then gradually decreased from October to next January and increased in February.
Conclusion: The contents of glucose have seasonal changes regularly in O. hupensis.