Effect of muscle stretching on meat quality of biceps femoris from beef

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of muscle stretching on meat quality and ultrastructure of biceps femoris (BF) from beef. After slaughter, the right side of the carcasses were suspended from the Achilles tendon (AS; n=10), while the left sides were re-hanged from the pelvic bone (PS; n=10). Meat quality was evaluated by water holding capacity (WHC), cooking loss (CL), color, shear force (SF) and sarcomere length (SL). As a result. PS had no impact on WHC, CL and color parameters. PS significantly decreased SF values by 7.5% only at 2 days postmortem. At pelvic suspended sides, SL was increased by 013 mu m, 0.14 mu m and 0.12 pm at 2, 7 and 10 days postmortem, respectively (P<0.001). Electron microscopy showed that the ultrastructure of BF have longer sarcomeres and smaller fiber diameter after PS. In conclusion, PS is a useful method for improving tenderness by stretching muscles. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effects of Electrical Stimulation on Quality and Microstructure of Rapid Chilled Beef Carcasses

A total of 15 beef were used to examine the effects of rapid chilling (RC) and electrical stimulation (ES) on meat quality and microstructure of longissimus dorsi thoracis (LDT). After slaughter, the right sides of carcasses were randomly assigned ES (500 V, 50 Hz, and 120 s), while the left sides remained as control (NES). Then, carcasses were rapidly chilled (-20+/-1 degrees C) for 6 h and placed in a conventional chiller (2+/-1 degrees C). Meat quality was evaluated by water holding capacity (WHC), cooking loss (CL), color (L*, a*, b*), shear force (SF) and sarcomere length (SL). As a result, ES had no impact on WHC, CL and color of LDT from rapid chilled carcasses (P < 0.05). Tenderness and SL values were significantly increased in stimulated carcasses at 2, 7 and 10 d postmortem (P < 0.001). Also, microstructure examination of LDT demonstrated that amorphous appearance of the myofibres was found in ES due to the rupture of M-lines and I-bands. The results showed that ES is a useful method for improving tenderness of LDT during storage time and the disadvantageous effect of RC on WHC, CL, and color was equalized

The structural properties of vimentin positive cells in the ileum epithelium of Angora rabbit

The study was projected to determine immunohistochemically vimentin positive cells by using anti-vimentin primary antibody, to eludicate ultrastructurally the morphological properties of these cells and, to examined the presence of villous M cells in villi epithelia. In this study, ten healthy, adult Angora rabbits were used as a material. It was examined the ileum with and without Peyer's patches. Immunohistochemical examination revealed the mature and immature M cells within FAE's and cup cells within epithelium of villi exibitcd the positive vimentin immunoreactivity. Electron microscopical examination revealed the mature M cells surrounded the intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) by a basolateral invagination. Whereas, immature M cells and cup cells were observed to be associated with one or two intraepithelial lymphocytes without such a pocketing. No villous M cells were found within epithelia of ileal villi. In conclusion, the cup cells are similar to immature M cells associated with IEL without a intraepithelial pocketing and showed a vimentin positive immunoreaction within their cytoplasms, but these cells are not villous M cells or enterocytes

Determination of alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) activity in peripheral blood leukocytes of pregnant, adult, and kitten Angora cats

WOS: 000347678600009This study aimed to determine the alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) activity of peripheral blood leukocytes in pregnant, kitten, and adult Angora cats. In each group 9 healthy pregnant, adult, and kitten Angora cats constituted the material of the study. Optimum reaction was achieved after a 3 h incubation period at pH 5.8, by ANAE staining. Two types of reaction were observed in ANAE (+) T lymphocytes. The first reaction was a dot-like positivity pattern characterized by the presence of large granules, while the other was a granular positivity pattern characterized by the presence of 3 to 5 small granules. B lymphocytes reacted negatively in ANAE staining. The rate of ANAE (+) lymphocytes in pregnant, kitten, and adult Angora cats was 62.89 +/- 1.29%, 68.37 +/- 1.22%, and 77.71 +/- 1.63%, respectively. In conclusion, the lowest rate of ANAE-positive lymphocytes was detected in the pregnant cats, depending on the maternal immune tolerance supported by hormonal mechanisms. An increased rate of ANAE-positive lymphocytes was detected in the kittens, and the highest rate was measured in the adults, in parallel with the development of the immune system

Effects of temperature conditioning and citrus juice marinade on quality and microstructure of aged beef

In this study, longissimus dorsi lumborum (LDL) muscles obtained from 10 beef carcasses were used to determine the effects of temperature conditioning and citrus juice (CJ; Citrus aurantifolia) marinade on quality and microstructure of aged beef carcasses. After slaughter, the right sides of carcasses (RC) were rapidly chilled (air temperature, -20+/-1 degrees C; wind velocity, 2 m/s) for 6 h and then placed in a conventional chiller (air temperature, 2+/-1 degrees C; wind velocity, 1 m/s) for 18 h, while the left sides (DC) were delay chilled at 15 degrees C for 6 h and then at 1 degrees C for 18 h. At 24 h postmortem, LDL was removed from the each carcass sides and stored at 0-4 degrees C for up to 7 days postmortem. At 2 days postmortem, each portion was cut into 5 cm x 1 cm x 1 cm and all strips were randomly submitted to the marinade treatment using solutions containing 50% CJ and distilled water as control. The beef strips were immersed for 12 h in the marinade solutions (10 ml/g meat) at 4 degrees C before evaluating the water holding capacity (WHC), cooking loss (CL), shear force (SF), sarcomere length (SL) and color (L*, a*, b*). The results showed that RC and CJ marinade reduced CL and WHC. DC and CJ had a positive effect on SF and SL compared to RC. Phase contrast microscopic examinations showed that SL of the LDL are longer in the DC group. These results suggest that RC would be useful for applying together with CJ marination for improving the tenderness of beef meat

The effect of intra-amniotic and posthatch dietary synbiotic administration on the performance, intestinal histomorphology, cecal microbial population, and short-chain fatty acid composition of broiler chickens.

This study evaluated the effect of intra-amniotic synbiotic inclusion and continued synbiotic supplementation in the diet on the performance, intestinal epithelium integrity, and cecal microflora of broiler chickens. In Experiment 1, 510 eggs containing viable embryos were divided into 3 groups of 170 eggs each. The first group was not injected and served as a negative control ( NC: ). The next group was injected with 0.9% NaCl and was the positive control ( PC: ). The synbiotic-injected group ( S: ) was injected with a 0.5% inulin and 1 × 106 Enterococcus faecium solution. The non-injected and synbiotic injected groups were further divided into 2 sets for Experiment 2 and the birds were offered either a basal or synbiotic supplemented diet (1% inulin and 2 × 109 E. faecium cfu/kg feed). One hundred ninety-six broiler hatchlings were randomly allocated in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement that included an intra-amniotic treatment (non-injected or synbiotic injected) and a dietary treatment (basal or synbiotic supplemented diet). The results showed that the administration of an intra-amniotic synbiotic to embryonated eggs on d 17 of incubation did not affect the hatchability or hatching weight of the birds. However, intra-amniotic synbiotic inclusion had a positive effect on FCR at d 0 to 42 (P = 0.041) and d 22 to 42 (P = 0.036). There was no significant interaction effect on the growth performance of the birds between the intra-amniotic and dietary synbiotic treatment during different or entire experimental periods. Villus height and goblet and proliferating cell nuclear antigen ( PCNA: ) positive cell counts were positively influenced by intra-amniotic and dietary synbiotic treatments. Our results also indicated that intra-amniotic synbiotic injection followed by dietary supplementation with a synbiotic significantly increased Lactobacillus colonization and decreased coliform population in the broiler cecum. Cecal butyric acid concentration increased proportionally to the cecal Lactobacillus count with dietary synbiotic supplementation on d 42. In summary, combined intra-amniotic and dietary synbiotic treatments improved broiler intestinal integrity and increased cecal beneficial bacteria populations

The effect of intra-amniotic and posthatch dietary synbiotic administration on the performance, intestinal histomorphology, cecal microbial population, and short-chain fatty acid composition of broiler chickens

This study evaluated the effect of intra-amniotic synbiotic inclusion and continued synbiotic supplementation in the diet on the performance, intestinal epithelium integrity, and cecal microflora of broiler chickens. In Experiment 1, 510 eggs containing viable embryos were divided into 3 groups of 170 eggs each. The first group was not injected and served as a negative control (NC). The next group was injected with 0.9\% NaCl and was the positive control (PC). The synbiotic-injected group (S) was injected with a 0.5\% inulin and 1 x 10(6) Enterococcus faecium solution. The non-injected and synbiotic injected groups were further divided into 2 sets for Experiment 2 and the birds were offered either a basal or synbiotic supplemented diet (1\% inulin and 2 x 10(9) E. faecium cfu/kg feed). One hundred ninety-six broiler hatchlings were randomly allocated in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement that included an intra-amniotic treatment (non-injected or synbiotic injected) and a dietary treatment (basal or synbiotic supplemented diet). The results showed that the administration of an intra-amniotic synbiotic to embryonated eggs on d 17 of incubation did not affect the hatchability or hatching weight of the birds. However, intra-amniotic synbiotic inclusion had a positive effect on FCR at d 0 to 42 (P = 0.041) and d 22 to 42 (P = 0.036). There was no significant interaction effect on the growth performance of the birds between the intra-amniotic and dietary synbiotic treatment during different or entire experimental periods. Villus height and goblet and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive cell counts were positively influenced by intra-amniotic and dietary synbiotic treatments. Our results also indicated that intra-amniotic synbiotic injection followed by dietary supplementation with a synbiotic significantly increased Lactobacillus colonization and decreased coliform population in the broiler cecum. Cecal butyric acid concentration increased proportionally to the cecal Lactobacillus count with dietary synbiotic supplementation on d 42. In summary, combined intra-amniotic and dietary synbiotic treatments improved broiler intestinal integrity and increased cecal beneficial bacteria populations