Significant interaction between LRP2 rs2544390 in intron 1 and alcohol drinking for serum uric acid levels among a Japanese population

A genome-wide association study identified that LRP2 rs2544390 in intron 1 was associated with serum uric acid (SUA) levels among Japanese, as well as polymorphisms of SLC22A12, ABCG2, and SLC2A9. This study aimed to confirm the association of rs2544390 C/T with SUA, as well as another LRP2 polymorphism (rs3755166 G/A) in the promoter. Subjects were 5016 health checkup examinees (3409 males and 1607 females) aged 35 to 69years with creatinine<2.0mg/dL. The subjects with SLC22A12 258WW, SLC2A9 rs11722228C allele, ABCG2 126QQ and 141Q allele (2546 males and 1199 females) were selected for analysis. Mean SUA was 6.03mg/dL for CC, 6.18mg/dL for CT, and 6.19mg/dL for TT among males (p=0.012), and 4.49mg/dL, 4.45mg/dL, and 4.42mg/dL among females (not significant), respectively. No association was observed for rs3755166. The association with rs2544390 was stronger among male drinkers. The odds ratio of drinking ≥5/week relative to no drinking for hyperuricemia (SUA≥7mg/dL and/or under medication for hyperuricemia) was 1.11 (95% confidence interval, 0.67-1.84) among CC males, 1.75 (1.22-2.51) among CT males, and 3.13 (1.80-5.43) among TT males. The interaction terms with drinking ≥5/week were 1.56 (p=0.156) for CT and 2.87 (p=0.005) for TT. This was the first report on the interaction between LRP2 genotype and alcohol drinking for SUA. Since the low density lipoprotein-related protein 2 (megalin) encoded by LRP2 is a multi-ligand endocytic receptor expressed in many tissues including the kidney proximal tubules, the association/interaction remained to be confirmed both epidemiologically and biologically.     

To serve you better

Fasting blood lipids were analyzed shortly before revascularization surgery in an attempt to find a possible correlation between the fate of the aortocoronary saphenous vein graft and lipoproteinemia. The patency of the bypass was evaluated by arteriography at two weeks and at one year following operation. Patients with closed grafts at two weeks had an original mean serum triglyceride concentration of 287 mg./100 ml. Patients with grafts which were widely patent after one year had an original triglyceridemia of 224 mg./100 ml. The severely stenosed group had an intermediate average preoperative value of 224 mg./100 ml. The same conclusion was reached with a group of patients with good vessel(s) distal to the graft(s). Cholesterolemia was about the same in all groups. These results suggest the hypothesis that hypertriglyceridemia plays a significant role in the reduction and/or occlusion of the lumen of the vein graft.     

Hyperuricemia and gout are associated with cancer incidence and mortality: A meta-analysis based on cohort studies

The association between hyperuricemia or gout and cancer risk has been investigated in various published studies, but their results are conflicting. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate whether hyperuricemia or gout was associated with the cancer incidence and mortality. Linear and nonlinear trend analyses were conducted to explore the dose–response association between them. The pooled relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to evaluate cancer risk. A total of 24 articles (33 independent studies) were eligible for inclusion. When compared participants with the highest SUA (hyperuricemia) levels and those with the lowest SUA levels, the pooled RR was 1.08 (95% CI, 1.04–1.12), it was significantly associated among males but not among females (males, RR = 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03–1.11; females, RR = 1.06; 95% CI, 0.96–1.17). Hyperuricemia increased total cancer mortality (RR = 1.15; 95% CI, 1.05–1.26), but a significant association was observed in females rather than in males (females: RR = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.09–1.45; males, RR = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.80–1.30). Linear relationships of SUA levels with overall cancer incidence (p for nonlinearity = 0.238) and overall cancer mortality (p for nonlinearity = 0.263) were identified. However, 1 mg/dL increment in SUA levels was weakly significant in overall cancer incidence (RR = 1.01; 95% CI, 1.01–1.01) but not associated with overall cancer mortality (RR = 1.01; 95% CI, 0.99–1.03). Gout was significantly associated with increased cancer incidence (RR = 1.19; 95% CI, 1.12–1.25). In conclusion, Hyperuricemia or gout was associated with higher cancer incidence and mortality. Though a potential linear relationship between them was found, we'd better treat this result with caution.     

Longitudinal association between serum uric acid levels and multiterritorial atherosclerosis

Multiterritorial atherosclerosis has dramatically increased annual risk of adverse cardiovascular events than atherosclerotic disease with single‐artery affected. Serum uric acid (SUA) is an important predictor of stroke and atherosclerosis; however, which is supported by few direct evidence based on cohort studies. A prospective cohort study including 2644 North Chinese adults aged ≥40 years was performed in 2010‐2012 to investigate the association between SUA and multiterritorial vascular stenosis. Hyperuricaemia was defined as SUA levels >6 and >7 mg/dL for males and females, respectively. All participants underwent twice transcranial Doppler (TCD) and bilateral carotid duplex ultrasound to evaluate intracranial artery stenosis (ICAS) and extracranial arterial stenosis (ECAS) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) was determined by ankle‐brachial index (ABI) on January 2010 and January 2012 based on regular health check‐ups. The cumulative incidence of vascular stenosis was significantly higher in subjects with hyperuricaemia than in those without hyperuricaemia (54.1% vs. 34.7%, P < 0.001). The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for new on‐set vascular stenosis due to hyperuricaemia and a 1‐mg/dL change in SUA level were 1.75 (1.32‐2.31) and 1.29 (1.21‐1.38), respectively. Furthermore, in the gender‐stratified analysis, the association between SUA levels and ICAS was statistically significant in males (OR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.18‐3.46), but not females (OR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.41‐1.76, P for interaction: 0.026).     

Intra-uterine infection and cord immunoglobulin M II. Clinical analysis of infants with elevated cord serum immunoglobulin M

Cord blood immunoglobulin M was measured in 3474 consecutive newborn infants. A group of 147 infants with elevated IgM values (≥19.0 mg./100 ml.) were compared with 92 unselected newborn infants with normal IgM values. One infant with clinically unsuspected congenital rubella was detected in the study group while no cases of intra-uterine infection were found among the controls. A greater proportion of mothers in the study group had a history of viral infection. The study group also contained a larger number of mothers who might be considered to be at greater risk of infection with agents known to cause intra-uterine disease. Follow-up studies at 6 months of age revealed no differences between the two groups aside from an increased incidence of minor motor abnormalities in the study group. While it is recognized that infants with cord blood IgM levels truly in excess of 30 mg./100 ml. may represent a high-risk group with respect to proved or subclinical intra-uterine infection, it is concluded that routine cord blood screening for elevated IgM values is not a high-yield procedure for the detection of intra-uterine infection in our population.     

血尿酸水平与冠状动脉病变程度的关系探讨

目的:探讨血尿酸(SUA)水平与冠状动脉病变程度的关系。方法:将268例疑似冠心病(CHD)患者,经冠状动脉造影分为冠心病组198例和非冠心病组70例;冠心病组又分为单支病变组80例,双支病变组56例,三支病变组62例。分别检测各组研究对象血尿酸含量,同时记录年龄、性别、吸烟、高血压、糖尿病、血尿酸及冠状动脉造影结果,分析血尿酸与已知冠心病主要危险因素、冠状动脉病变程度的相关性。结果:冠心病组血尿酸水平(395.35±84.40)μmol/L,显著高于非冠心病组(282.20±66.68)μmol/L(P<0.05)。单支病变组(338.48±77.36)μmol/L、双支病变组(399.62±84.36)μmol/L、三支病变组(445.16±92.20)μmol/L,血尿酸水平呈递增趋势,各组之间的差异有统计学意义。结论:血尿酸水平可反映冠状动脉病变严重程度。降尿酸治疗有望成为心血管疾病防治的一种新途径。     

High Haemoglobin Values During Medical Treatment of Hypertension

In 123 patients with arterial hypertension the haemoglobin values were determined before and during long-term antihypertensive drug treatment. The haemoglobin values found before treatment did not differ from those found in the normal population. In both sexes the haemoglobin values showed a significant increase after prolonged treatment. In males the average values rose from 15.1 to 16.7 g./100 ml., and in females from 13.96 to 14.82 g./100 ml. The increase in the haemoglobin concentration does not seem to be clearly correlated to the duration of treatment or to the decrease produced in mean blood pressure. On the other hand, the increase in haemoglobin depended to some extent on the nature of treatment. Diuretics alone resulted in a moderate increase only, whereas diuretics in combination with other antihypertensive drugs produced a more pronounced increase in haemoglobin values.     

Optimum Calcium Concentration of Dialysis Fluid for Maintenance Haemodialysis

To define the minimum and maximum levels for calcium concentration of dialysis fluid a combination of acute and long-term observations was carried outIn acute experiments the external calcium balance during dialysis was dependent on the gradient between plasma ultrafilterable calcium and dialysis fluid calcium concentration. Changes in plasma calcium during dialysis did not correlate with measured external balance.In long-term studies it was found that raising the dialysis fluid calcium concentration from 5.0 to 6.0 mg./ 100 ml. both arrested biochemical and radiological changes of hyperparathyroidism, and, by causing a progressive fall in plasma phosphates, made metastatic calcification less likely. Raising the concentration to 6.5 mg./lOO ml. in an attempt to compensate for negative alimentary calcium balance caused nausea and vomiting in some patients.A concentration of 6.0±0.2 mg./100 ml. is recommended.     

Whole blood and serum zinc levels in relation to sex and age

The zinc content in whole blood and serum was determined in 239 healthy males and 217 healthy females by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean level of zinc obtained in whole human blood from males was 607.0 +/- 105.3 micrograms/100 ml and in females 585.2 +/- 122.9 micrograms/100 ml. The mean level of zinc in serum was 116.6 +/- 55.2 micrograms/100 ml and 105.2 +/- 66.9 micrograms/100 ml in males and females respectively. The zinc concentration in whole blood and serum in males proved to be slightly higher than in females though the difference is not statistically significant. For the males a positive correlation was found between age and the zinc level in whole blood and serum; this is only statistically significant in whole blood. In females, the zinc level in whole blood showed a positive correlation with age which was not statistically significant, while in serum this correlation was negative and statistically significant.     

Laboratory testing of a lethal ovitrap for Aedes aegypti

Laboratory tests were conducted to determine the feasibility of making the mosquito ovitrap lethal to Aedes aegypti (L.) when they attempt to oviposit in the trap. Heavy-weight velour paper strips (2.54 x 11 cm) were used as an alternative to the wooden paddle normally provided as a substrate for mosquito oviposition. The paper strips were pretreated with insecticide solutions and allowed to dry before being used in oviposition cups of 473 ml capacity, filled with water initially to within 2.5 cm of the brim. Insecticides chosen for their quick knock-down efficacy were bendiocarb 76% WP (1.06 mg a.i./strip) and four pyrethroids: permethrin 25% WP (0.16 mg a.i./strip), deltamethin 4.75% SC (0.87 mg a.i./strip), cypermethrin 40% WP (2.81 mg a.i./strip), and cyfluthrin 20% WP (0.57 mg a.i./ strip). For experimental evaluation, two oviposition cups (one with an insecticide-treated strip and one with an untreated strip) were placed in cages (cubic 30 cm) with gravid female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes (aged 6-8 days) from a susceptible laboratory strain. Mortality-rates of female mosquitoes were 45% for bendiocarb, 47% for permethrin, 98% for deltamethrin, 100% for cypermethrin, and 100% for cyfluthrin. Young instar larvae added to the treated cups died within 2h. After water evaporation from the cups for 38 days, fresh mosquito females had access to previously submerged portions of the velour paper paddle, and mortality rates of 59% or more occurred. Cups that had water (360 ml) dripped into them, to simulate rain, produced female mosquito mortality rates of > 50% and all larvae died within 3 h of being added. These tests demonstrate that the ovitrap can be made lethal to both adults and larvae by insecticidal treatment of the ovistrip. Field efficacy trials are underway in Brazil to access the impact of this simple, low-cost, environmentally benign approach on populations of the dengue vector Ae. aegypti.     

Female goats use courtship display as an honest indicator of male quality

Due to the differential cost of reproduction in promiscuous species, like domesticated goat(s) (Capra hircus), it is expected that females should mate with higher quality males, while males should mate with a greater number of females. Females may use conspicuous secondary sexual characteristics of males such as courtship display to distinguish among high and low quality males. Testosterone (T) controls a large suite of secondary sexual characteristics and variation in T concentrations may account of differences in courtship rates. Two studies were conducted to examine the relationship between T concentrations and courtship rate and its role in mammalian female mate choice. Experiment 1 utilized bucks (intact males) and Experiment 2 utilized T-replaced wethers (castrated pre-pubertally). During the first year of Experiment 2, T-replaced wethers received either vehicle control (CON), 25 mg or 100 mg testosterone propionate (TP). During the second year of Experiment 2, T-replaced wethers were treated with either 5 mg, 15 mg or 25 mg TP. For all experiments, mean courtship rates and circulating T concentrations were measured, as well as female preference for males displaying different courtship frequencies. T concentrations and courtship rate were positively correlated for bucks and estrous females preferred high courting bucks. Males receiving 25 mg and 100 mg TP courted females at a similar rate, but both were significantly higher than courtship rates of the CON wethers. Courtship rates of the 25 mg, 15 mg and 5 mg TP-treated males were all significantly different. Females did not show a preference between the 100 mg or 25 mg TP-treated wethers, however both were preferred in comparison to the CON wethers. Females did not show preference between the 25 mg or 15 mg TP-treated wethers, however both were preferred in comparison to the 5 mg TP-treated wethers. Taken together, these studies suggest that courtship rate is T-dependent. Further, females can use courtship rate to distinguish among males.     

Analysis of genetic and environmental sources of variation in serum cholesterol in Tecumseh,Michigan. III. Identification of genetic effects using 12 polymorphic genetic blood marker systems.

Four of 12 unlinked polymorphic marker systems were identified as predictors of normal serum cholesterol levels. Consistent effects between males and females and with other studies suggest that these marker loci are themselves involved in cholesterol determination or are closely linked to the involved loci. Two-locus combinations suggest that an 8-9 mg/100 ml difference in nonfasting serum cholesterol may be predicted between phenotypic classes which are not rare in frequency.     

Plasma Magnesium Concentration in Primary Hyperparathyroidism

The plasma magnesium concentration has been determined in 73 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. In most patients it lay within the normal range (1·7-2·3 mg./100 ml.), but in five it was less than 1·6 mg./100 ml. These patients had relatively high urinary magnesium outputs, and one of them, studied in greater detail, failed to retain parenterally administered magnesium. Hence hypomagnesaemia in hyperparathyroidism may be associated with a defect in renal magnesium conservation, which may be reversible.     

Anogenital distance and umbilical cord testosterone level in newborns in Zaria, Northern Nigeria

The anogenital distance (AGD) is the distance between the anus and the base of the penis in males and anus to fourchette (AF) distance in females and is a sexually dimorphic index that, on average, is twice as great in males as in females, so it is used as an indicator of appropiate masculine development. In this study, the anogenital distance (AGD) and anthropometric measurements such as birth weight, birth length, head circumference and placenta weight of 200 newborns (100 male, 100 female) were taken and umbilical cord serum was assayed for testosterone concentration using Radioimmunoassay (Microwell). Data obtained were analysed using Student t-test and Pearson's Correlation Analysis as applicable. Results revealed that mean total anogenital distance was 22.53±0.70mm, and it was significantly higher in males: 31.11±0.64mm than in females: 13.89±0.26mm and we observed that there was positive correlation between birth weight and AGD in females. In males head circumference correlated positively with AGD. The mean cord testosterone concentration was 2.78±0.30ng/ml in males and 2.09±0.22ng/ml in females and did not have any significant correlation with anogenital distance. It was concluded that AGD of the population studied, though high was not significantly higher than AGD in other parts of the world and umbilical cord testosterone level did not have any significant effect on AGD. Keywords: Anogenital distance, Ethnicity, Umbilical cord testosterone, Anthropometry.     

Testosterone and chemosensory detection in male Syrian hamster

Gonadal steroids stimulate both sexual motivation and performance. However, steroid facilitation of appetitive sexual behavior is poorly understood. The present study determined if castration impairs chemosensory detection in male hamsters. Chemosensory cues are the principal sensory modality to initiate mating in this species. We compared LiCl-induced conditioned taste avoidance to female hamster vaginal secretion (FHVS) in gonad-intact and castrated males. Following overnight water deprivation, males received FHVS for 15 min, followed by LiCl (2 ml of 0.15 M) or saline ip. The next day, fluid consumption in a two-bottle choice test was recorded for 5.5 h. Pairings were repeated 4×. Initially, discrimination of FHVS from estrous females (10 or 100 μg/ml) was compared with plain water. Subsequently, we determined if males could distinguish FHVS from Syrian vs. Djungarian females or from estrous vs. anestrous females. When 100 μg/ml FHVS was paired with saline, all gonad-intact and 86% of castrated males preferred FHVS over water. However, when 100 μg/ml FHVS was paired with LiCl, the preference was reversed: 12.5% of intact males and 25% of castrates preferred FHVS (P < 0.05 vs. saline pairing). When exposed to 10 μg/ml FHVS, neither gonad-intact nor castrated males expressed conditioned taste avoidance, suggesting that 10 μg/ml FHVS is below the threshold for detection. Comparing discrimination of FHVS from Syrian and Djungarian females, only castrated males developed a significant conditioned taste avoidance to Syrian FHVS paired with LiCl. While 71% of castrated males preferred Syrian FHVS after saline pairing, only 12.5% of castrates preferred Syrian FHVS after pairing with LiCl (P < 0.05). In gonad-intact males, 57% preferred Syrian FHVS after saline pairing, while 14% preferred Syrian FHVS following LiCl pairing (P > 0.05). Neither gonad-intact nor castrated males successfully discriminated between FHVS from estrous and anestrous females. These data demonstrate that castrated males perform as well as gonad-intact males in a test of LiCl-induced conditioned taste avoidance. Therefore, it is unlikely that steroids enhance detection of sexually relevant chemosensory cues.     

Social suppression of ovarian cyclicity in captive and wild colonies of naked mole-rats, Heterocephalus glaber

To investigate the endocrine cause of reproductive suppression in nonbreeding female naked mole-rats, animals from 35 colonies were studied in captivity. Urinary and plasma progesterone concentrations were elevated in pregnant females (urine: 10.0-148.4 ng/mg Cr, 27 samples from 8 females; plasma: 3.6-30.0 ng/ml, 5 samples from 5 females; Days 21-40 of pregnancy) and cyclic breeding females (urine: 0.5-97.8 ng/mg Cr, 146 samples from 7 females; plasma: less than 1.0-35.4 ng/ml, 25 samples from 7 females). The latter group showed cyclic patterns of urinary progesterone, indicating a mean ovarian cycle length of 34.4 +/- 1.6 days (mean +/- s.e.m.) with a follicular phase of 6.0 +/- 0.6 days and a luteal phase of 27.5 +/- 1.3 days (19 cycles from 9 breeding females). In non-breeding females urinary and plasma progesterone values were undetectable (urine: less than 0.5 ng/mg Cr, 232 samples from 64 females; plasma: less than 1.0 ng/ml, 7 samples from 6 females). Breeding females had higher (P less than 0.001) plasma LH concentrations (3.0 +/- 0.2 mi.u./ml, 73 samples from 24 females) than did non-breeding females (1.6 +/- 0.1 mi.u./ml, 57 samples from 44 females). Urinary and plasma progesterone concentrations in non-breeding females from wild colonies situated near Mtito Andei, Kenya, were either below the assay sensitivity limit (urine: less than 0.5 ng/mg Cr, 11 females from 2 colonies; plasma: less than 1.0 ng/ml, 25 females from 4 colonies), or very low (plasma: 1.6 +/- 0.6 ng/ml, 15 females from 4 colonies). In captivity, non-breeding females removed from their colonies (i.e. the dominant breeding female) and either paired directly with a non-breeding male (N = 2), or removed and housed singly for 6 weeks before pairing with a non-breeding male (N = 5) may develop a perforate vagina for the first time in as little as 7 days. Urinary progesterone concentrations rose above 2.0 ng/mg Cr (indicative of a luteal phase) for the first time 8.0 +/- 1.9 days after being separated. These results suggest that ovulation is suppressed in subordinate non-breeding female naked mole-rats in captive and wild colonies, and show that plasma LH concentrations are significantly lower in these non-breeding females. This reproductive block in non-breeding females is readily reversible if the social factors suppressing reproduction are removed.     

Is fecundity modified by crowding in the copepod Centropages typicus?

Experiments were conducted to test the effect of overcrowdingon egg production rates in the copepod Centropages typicus.Fertility was not significantly reduced by the presence of otherconspecifics when the volume of water was the same for femalesincubated alone or in the presence of other females and males.There was no evidence of chemical cues affecting egg productionwhen females were kept in large (1 female in 100 ml sea water[SW] or small (1 female in 25 ml SW) volumes of water, withor without partitions, and in the presence or absence of foodor males. Also, spawning rate was not reduced when females wereincubated in flow-through experimental chambers which alloweddiffusion of pheromones between females incubated alone or inhigh densities (100 ind. in 50 ml SW). Only when females wereplaced at unnaturally high densities (1 female ml^–1) wasegg production significantly reduced, probably due to physicaldisturbance and increased number of collisions rather than chemicalcommunication among individuals. The results show that chemicalcues do not affect spawning behaviour when population densitiesare close to field conditions. By contrast, overcrowding inducedby swarming or aggregation may potentially limit reproductivesuccess due to reduced feeding, and production and cannibalismof eggs.     

Hypophosphataemia in Septicaemia: Higher Incidence in Gram-negative Than in Gram-positive Infections

Phosphataemia has been investigated in 54 patients with Gram-negative septicaemias; either absolute (serum phosphate <2 mg./100 ml.) or relative (P./B.U.N. 0·04) hypophosphataemia was found in 69% of all determinations. In 37 patients with Gram-positive septicaemias hypophosphataemia was present in only 24%, many of whom had additional Gram-negative bacteriuria and possible Gram-negative septicaemia suppressed by antibiotics. The mechanism of this phenomenon is not known. This new sign of Gram-negative septicaemia has some diagnostic importance.     

Analysis of genetic and environmental sources of variation in serum cholesterol in Tecumseh, Michigan. I. Analysis of the frequency distribution for evidence of a genetic polymorphism.

Analyses of serum cholesterol measurements on 4,619 males and 4,730 females residing in the community of Tecumseh, Michigan, were conducted to estimate the contribution of sex, age, temporal variation, and bimodality to determining the normal variation among individuals sampled without regard to their health status. Female values had a higher mean (2.8 mg/100 ml greater) but smaller variance than males when adjusted by polynomial regression to a common age. Positive skew in the frequency distribution for both sexes was removed by natural logarithm (ln) transformation. Age variation accounted for 28.5% and 29.4% of the variance in a ln cholesterol measurement of males and females, respectively. Between 7% and 10% of the variance in a ln cholesterol value was estimated to be attributable to differences between age-adjusted replicate measurements of the same individual. The reduction in individual variability by adjustment for these contributions to variance will allow a more precise evaluation of the relative contribution of alternate genetic hypotheses as explanations for normal variation in cholesterol. Assuming bimodality, approximately one in 1,000 males and one in 1,000 females belong to a second mode of hypercholesterolemic individuals. The locus determining familial hypercholesterolemia is not a major source of normal phenotypic variation in the Tecumseh population.     

Decrease in respiratory rate in a wolf spider,Pardosa astrigera (L. Koch), under starvation

Effects of starvation on the suryival period and the respiratory rate in adults of a wolf spider, Pardosa astrigera (L. Koch ), were investigated. The spiders used were divided into four groups: well-fed, starved and two limited food groups; in the latter two, each spider was supplied with one leafhopper every second or third day. Adult males and females of P. astrigera could survive for a long time; 28.8±2.7 days and 54.4±18.9 days, respectively, without any food. The longevities shown here were 73.8% for males and 78.6% for females of those of well-fed spiders, indicating that P. astrigera adults have a strong tolerance to starvation. The respiratory rate of well-fed adults showed no tendency to increase or decrease with their aging; the mean respiratory rates were 4.86×10⁻⁴ mg CO₂/mg f.w. (fresh body weight)/hr for males and 3.80×10⁻⁴ mg CO₂/mg f.w./hr for females. The respiratory rates of starved spiders increased during the first two days of starvation but decreased markedly from the third to the twelfth day, and thereafter retained an almost constant level for each sex. The mean respiratory rates after the twelfth day of starvation were 2.49×10⁻⁴ mg CO₂/mg f.w./hr for males and 2.76×10⁻⁴ mg CO₂/mg f.w./hr for females; these values were respectively 48.4% and 63.0% of those prior to starvation. The fresh body weight of starved spiders decreased linearly with time but the rate was small. The respiratory rates of the limited food groups tended to decline with time and thereby their weight losses were minimized. The decrease in the respiratory rate under starvation was considered not to be due to spider exhaustion or senescence but due to an intrinsic change in behaviour and/or metabolism, because when the spiders were supplied with ample food for five days after starvation, the respiratory rate and the body weight rapidly recovered to near the levels prior to starvation. It is suggested that starved spiders use a higher ratio of fat as catabolic substrate than normally fed or satiated ones. Feeding strategies of poikilo-therm predators are discussed.