Ribosomal protein L7 as a suitable reference gene for quantifying gene expression in gastropod Bellamya aeruginosa

•8 reference genes expression levels in tissue of snail were quantified.•RefFinder program was used to valuated these genes expression stability.•β actin was the least stable reference gene across all tested samples.•RPL7 could be used as reference gene in snails exposure to different stressors.

Expression levels of eight candidate reference genes were quantified in tissues of gastropod Bellamya aeruginosa exposed for 10 d to various stressors, including fasting, 17β-estradiol, 17α-methyltestosterone, and Cd2+. The results showed that 18s rRNA was the most highly expressed of the candidate reference genes, while H2A was the least expressed. There were no significant changes (p > 0.05) in the expression of the eight genes in tissues among the different treatments. Using RefFinder to evaluate the expression stabilities of the eight candidate reference genes, ribosomal protein was shown to be the most stable reference gene, and no effects were observed among the different stressor treatments. These results indicate that RPL 7 is the most suitable reference gene for quantifying gene expression in B. aeruginosa under environmental stress, which was verified in B. aeruginosa exposed to high doses of E2 for 24 and 72 h.