Optic gland explained

The optic glands are endocrine organs in the octopus and squid that play a role in sexual development and senescence. They lie between the brain and optic lobes.^[1] The optic gland in female octopuses is associated with their maternal behavior of guarding their eggs without feeding.^[2] This self-starvation results in the death of the female octopus before her eggs have hatched.^[3] In captivity, some starving females also self-mutilate and entangle their arms in an apparent effort to die even faster.

Removal

Removal of the gland causes the octopus to abandon their eggs and return to feeding. ^[4] The female octopus then eats further, doubles its weight and doubles its lifespan.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Wells . Martin J. . Wells . J. . 1972 . Optic glands and the state of the testis in Octopus . Marine Behaviour and Physiology . 1 . 1–4 . 71–83 . 10.1080/10236247209386890.
2. Wang . Z. Yan . Ragsdale . Clifton . October 8, 2018 . Multiple optic gland signaling pathways implicated in octopus maternal behaviors and death . Journal of Experimental Biology . 221 . 19 . jeb185751 . 10.1242/jeb.185751 . 30104305 . 6198452 . 18 September 2021.
3. Web site: Changes in cholesterol production lead to tragic octopus death spiral . May 12, 2022 . May 15, 2022 . University of Washington News Staff .
4. Wang . Z. Yan . Ragsdale . Clifton . Multiple optic gland signaling pathways implicated in octopus maternal behaviors and death . Journal of Experimental Biology . October 8, 2018 . 221 . 19 . jeb185751 . 10.1242/jeb.185751 . 30104305 . 18 September 2021. 6198452 .
5. News: O'Toole . Thomas . 1977-12-01 . Octopus Surgery Has a Surprising End: Longer Life . en-US . Washington Post . 2022-05-14 . 0190-8286.