Abstract
Collagen protein has been considered as major culprit to myopathy condition affecting Pectoralis major, called woody breast (WB) in Gallus gallus domesticus (broiler). The WB myopathy is characterized by macroscopic stiffness of P. major and the affected tissue have reduced protein quality. This study measured the in-vivo soluble (S-) and insoluble (I-) collagen fractional synthesis and degradation rates (FSR and FDR) in P. major over typical grow-out cycle of broiler using stable isotope of 1-13C proline as metabolic tracer. Collagen content and muscle fiber histomorphology of P. major were also assessed simultaneously. The FSR and FDR for S- and I-collagen decreased over age, however FSR remained higher than FDR suggesting collagen was accreting during the grow-out period. This was reflected by increment in total collagen content in P. major in maturing broiler. Histomicrographs showed myodegeneration occurring as early as 21 days followed by greater accumulation of collagenous tissue in perimysial and endomysial connective tissue spaces of muscle fibers as bird aged. The findings suggest that reduced turnover of collagen in P. major at the later age of bird could have evolved due to adaptive physiological feedback mechanism against further synthesis and deposition of collagen in the extracellular matrix.
Highlights
The global poultry industry ventures to produce larger broilers with higher breast yield in a curtailed growth cycle
The Fractional synthesis rates (FSR) and fractional degradation rates (FDR) for I-collagen and S-collagen at various ages are given in Figures 3i, 4i, respectively
The FSR and FDR of S-collagen tended to decrease with increasing age of the broiler
Summary
The global poultry industry ventures to produce larger broilers with higher breast yield in a curtailed growth cycle. This is attained through intensive genetic selection and improved nutritional regimes that support the genetics of these high yielding broiler strains. Selection for quantitative traits such as breast yield and growth rate exert physiological pressure leading to ante-mortem histological and biochemical alterations in muscle tissues. A recent study reported WB myopathy incidence of ∼9% for 10,483 filets evaluated in high breast meat yielding strain from a flock which produced larger broilers (2.72–4.53 kg) [1]. The WB myopathy condition is mainly characterized by macroscopic stiffness in breast tissue affecting the appearance and protein
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