Changes in the biochemical composition of the digestive gland and in the proteins of the mantle muscle of Sepia officinalis L, collected in September 1989 from the Ria de Vigo (northwest Spain), were measured during periods of 2, 4, 10 and >53 d starvation. The digestive gland lost weight faster than the rest of the body throughout the whole period of starvation. In the digestive gland, carbohydrate and protein contents did not change during starvation; however, lipid levels decreased significantly after 53 d. Phospholipid content increased during longterm starvation. The content of free fatty acids rose after 16 d. Sterols, diacylglycerylethers, triacylglycerols and carotenoids contents did not change significantly. Of the total fatty acids, 18:0, 20:2n6, 20:4n6 and the monounsaturated moieties were preferentially consumed; others, such as 22:5n3, 22:6n3 and 16:4n1, were selectively retained. In the mantle muscle, water content increased and total protein content decreased. The myofibrillar proteins decreased after 53 d starvation, whereas the sarcoplasmic fraction did not change and the stromatic proteins increased. No changes were observed in the electrophoretic patterns of sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins. The digestive gland of S. officinalis does not seem to be an important reserve organ during long-term starvation, but does seem to be important during shortterm starvation

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