[Seasonal changes of glycogen level in Oncomelania hupensis].

Oncomelania hupensis snails were collected from Qingyi River of Wuhu City from August 2012 to July 2013. Livers and pedal muscles of snails were dissected. Anthrone colorimetric method was used to evaluate the glycogen concentrations of whole-body, liver and muscle. The concentration of whole-body and liver glycogen decreased from September to next June. The whole body glycogen content in female (0.55 microg/mg) and male (0.88 microg/mg) snails was the lowest in June and April, respectively. The mean whole-body glycogen concentration in females and males was 2.99 and 3.39 microg/mg, respectively. Liver glycogen concentration was lowest in May (female = 0.29 microg/mg, male = 0.22 microg/mg), and reached peak level in August (female = 2.49 microg/mg, male = 2.78 microg/mg). The average liver glycogen concentration in female and male snails was 1.09 and 0.89 microg/mg, respectively. The muscle glycogen concentration gradually decreased from February to June, the lowest was found in June (female = 0.25 microg/mg, male = 0.41 microg/mg), and reached peak level in December (female =16.59 microg/mg, male = 10.06 microg/mg). The average muscle glycogen concentration in female and male snails was 799 and 605 microg/mg, respectively. There was a positive linear correlation between whole-body and liver glycogen concentrations (P < 0.05), and both of them had the similar trend in their monthly change. A positive linear correlation was found among whole-body, liver and muscle glycogen concentrations (P < 0.05).