Formation of Myofibrillar Fragments and Reversible Contraction of Sarcomeres in Chicken Pectoral Muscle

Abstract

SUMMARY— As morphological changes occurred in the pectoral muscles of chicken carcasses during 48 hr storage at 5°C, two notable phenomena were observed: (1) fragmentation of myofibrils and (2) reversible or irreversible contraction of sarcomeres. When blendorized, myofibrils tend to break into small fragments composed of 1‐4 sarcomeres with time post‐mortem. It was also found that besides an irreversible post‐mortem contraction of sarcomeres generally accepted, a reversible contraction can take place under particular conditions.