Relationship of Plasma 17-Hydroxycorticosteroid Levels to some Physical and Biochemical Properties of Porcine Muscle

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Abstract
Sixty market weight (91 to 103 kg.) barrows and gilts representing four breeds (Yorkshire, Poland China, Hampshire and Landrace) were included in the study. The l. dorsi muscles were subjectively divided into three groups of 20 pigs each and designated severe PSE (pale, soft and exudative), slight PSE or DFD (dark, firm and dry). Significantly lower quantities of sarcoplasmic, myofibrillar protein and NPN were extracted from PSE musculature than from DFD muscle. While considerable variability in the quantity of extractable protein was found among the three groups, these data indicate that muscle protein extractability is not entirely consistent with visible PSE muscle characteristics. Plasma 17-OHCS levels from pigs possessing severe PSE muscles were 3.3 mcg./100 ml. lower than the DFD group. This difference approached significance (P<.08). Considerable variation in plasma 17-OHCS existed within the three groups. Muscle pH was significantly different between the DFD (pH 5.46), slight PSE (pH 5.35) and severe PSE (pH 5.18) groups. L. dorsi muscle area was significantly (P<.01) larger for the severe PSE group than for the DFD group. Muscle and plasma sodium and potassium values were not significantly different among the three groups. Copyright © 1967. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1967 by American Society of Animal Science