The effect of electrical stimulation on the water-holding capacity and protein denaturation of two bovine muscles

• Published in: Journal of animal science 1997-01, Vol.75 (1), p.118-124
• Main Authors: Hertog-Meischke, M.J.A. den (Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.), Smulders, F.J.M, Logtestijn, J.G. van, Knapen, F. van
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACTIVIDAD ENZIMATICA; ACTIVITE ENZYMATIQUE; Adenosine Triphosphatases - analysis; Animals; Beef; Biological and medical sciences; CAMBIOS POST MORTEM; CAPACIDAD DE RETENCION DE AGUA; CAPACITE DE RETENTION D'EAU; CARNE DE RES; Cattle - metabolism; Cattle - physiology; DEGRADACION; DEGRADATION; Electric Stimulation; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel - methods; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel - veterinary; ESTIMULO; FIBRAS MUSCULARES; FIBRE MUSCULAIRE; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Male; Meat and meat product industries; Meat industry; MODIFICATION POSTMORTEM; MUSCLE; Muscle Proteins - analysis; Muscle Proteins - metabolism; Muscle, Skeletal - chemistry; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; MUSCULOS; Myosins - chemistry; Myosins - metabolism; PERDIDAS; PERTE; Protein Denaturation - physiology; PROTEINAS; PROTEINE; Sarcomeres - ultrastructure; SOLUBILIDAD; SOLUBILITE; STIMULUS; TEJIDOS ANIMALES; TEMPERATURA; TEMPERATURE; TISSU ANIMAL; VIANDE BOVINE; Water - metabolism
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163; 0021-8812
• DOI: 10.2527/1997.751118x

The effect of low-voltage electrical stimulation on the water-holding capacity and protein denaturation of bovine longissimus thoracis and semimembranosus was studied in eight electrically stimulated (86 V, 14 Hz, 15 s; immediately after slaughter) and eight nonstimulated Friesian Holstein bull carcasses. At 24 h postmortem longissimus thoracis and semimembranosus were sampled for drip loss, thaw loss, filter paper wetness, myofibrillar water-holding capacity, protein content of drip, protein solubility, myofibrillar ATPase-activities, and bound phosphorylase. Electrical stimulation resulted in higher (P 0.05) drip losses and filter paper wetness and lower (P 0.05) myofibrillar water-holding capacity of semimembranosus samples. The increased drip loss coincided with decreased (P 0.05) sarcoplasmic protein solubility, decreased (P 0.05) myofibrillar ATPase activity, and decreased (P 0.05) protein concentration of drip. In the longissimus thoracis, electrical stimulation resulted in a lower (P 0.05) myofibrillar water-holding capacity. However, this was not reflected in higher drip losses. In this muscle, only a decreased (P 0.05) sarcoplasmic protein solubility and increased (P 0.05) amount of bound phosphorylase was observed. The results indicated that the negative effect of electrical stimulation on drip loss is possibly the result of myosin denaturation, which is determined by postmortem pH and temperature fall and thus varies by muscle studied. Sarcoplasmic protein denaturation seemed not to be involved in determining water-holding capacity