Effect of Postmortem Time and Temperature on the Release of Lysosomal Enzymes and Their Possible Effect on Bovine Connective Tissue Components of Muscle

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe influence of postmortem time and incubation temperature on the release of lysosomal enzyme activity and their effect on the muscle connective tissue have been investigated. Semimembranosus muscles from nine steers were restrained and held at 2°C (C) for 60 hr; five portions of each muscle were elevated to 37°C (HT) for different 12‐hr sequences of the 60 hr. It was found that HT incubated samples showed a greater release of lysosomal enzymes (β‐galactosidase and β‐glucuronidase), regardless of the time postmortem when high temperature conditioning occurred. The inclusion of hyaluronidase or β‐galactosidase in the sample incubation solution resulted in an increase in the dissolution of collagen fibers by collagenase, which indicates that lysosomal glycosidases may also participate in the dissolution of collagen fibers during postmortem aging.