VARIATIONS IN THE BIOCHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF THE SQUID ILLEX-ARGENTINUS FROM THE SOUTH ATLANTIC-OCEAN

General condition, biochemical composition changes and fatty acids in several tissues of I. argentinus at different sexual stages were studi ed. Ovarian maturation involves a simultaneous increase in ovary mass and in protein and lipid levels. Testes weights were modified less tha n the ovary with maturation and showed a constant biochemical composit ion during spermatogenesis. The digestive gland grew through most of t he maturation process in both sexes. Water level was high in immature squid and low in mature females and males, and varied inversely to tha t of lipids. Dorsal mantle maintained a constant biochemical compositi on, between February (immature) and June (fertilized females and matur e males). All tissues contained high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids followed by saturated fatty acids and monosaturated fatty acids. This digestive gland of the squid is rich in polyenoic fatty ac ids, 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3. This tissue could be a cheap raw material, p resently discarded, for production of polyunsaturated fatty acids. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.