In this paper, we show an optimal volume growth for self-shrinkers, and estimate a lower bound of the first eigenvalue of $\mathcal{L}$ operator on self-shrinkers, inspired by the first eigenvalue conjecture on minimal hypersurfaces in the unit sphere by Yau \cite{SY}. By the eigenvalue estimates, we can prove a compactness theorem on a class of compact self-shrinkers in $\ir{3}$ obtained by Colding-Minicozzi under weaker conditions. Comment: 17 pages
