Influence of prolonged fasting on the biochemistry of Lissomyema exilii (Echiura)

Abstract 1. 1. The water, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, nitrogen and glucose contents were determined in recently collected animals and in those submitted to fasting for up to 160 days. 2. 2. The water, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, iron, nitrogen, glycogen and total carbohydrate contents were determined for the parietal muscles, proboscis and digestive tract in similarly treated animals, the values obtained being discussed in relation to the duration of fasting. 3. 3. In relation to the coelomic fluid, the contents of sodium, potassium, magnesium and copper increase markedly with prolonged fasting; those of nitrogen and phosphorus show a slight increase while those of water, calcium, iron and glucose decrease noticeably.