Long-term starvation in Xenopus laevis Daudin--II. Effects on several organs

1. The effect of starvation for 12 months on organo-somatic indices, glycogen, protein and water contents of several organs and the Na+/K+ ratio in muscle was studied in the South African clawed toad Xenopus laevis Daudin. 2. The liver- and ovary-somatic index were reduced by 30 and 70% of the initial value after 12 months. Fat bodies had disappeared after approximately 6 months of starvation. The indices of heart and kidney were not changed. 3. Glycogen concentration of the liver, ovaries and muscle were depleted nearly totally during the first half of the experimental time, whereas glycogen in the kidney seemed to be unaffected. 4. Protein concentration increased in the liver, decreased in the muscle and remained constant in the kidney. 5. Starvation caused an increase of the water concentration of the whole animal and different organs, especially at the end of the experiment. 6. The Na+/K+ ratio of the muscle increased significantly after 6 months of starvation and reached a maximum after 10 months.