Observation on eggs of Oncomelania hupensis hupensis with scanning electron microscope

Objective To observe the structure of the mud hull packed Oncomelania eggs and the surface structure of colloid membrane called the third grade membrane of eggs. \ Methods\ Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe Oncomelania snail eggs with integral mud hull collected from eastern Dongting Lake. \ Results and Conclusion\ The mud hull of eggs was made of unshapen small humification combined with earth granules with a diameter of 2\^6-9\^2 μm. The mud hull in 60um thickness was honeycomb-like in shape with many small holes and small folds on the wall. There were many round or irregularly round hollownesses on the inner layer of mud hull that contacts colloid membrane but no hole through mud hull. There were some protein fiber networks covering on the colloid membrane and apophysis. The structure of the mud hull showed that the exchange of matter was maintained between eggs and outside, and the mud hull is of great importance to regulating temperature and moisture for the growth of eggs by preventing hydrosoluble substances from penetrating into eggs. The protein fiber networks act on gluing mud hull and buffering outside power. The dense glue membrane might be a main barricade to prevent \{pharmaceutical\} molecules from penetrating into eggs.