Consumption of oxidized oil increases oxidative stress in broilers and affects the quality of breast meat

A total of 120 4-week-old broiler chickens were allotted to 12 pens and fed one of three diets including control, oxidized diet (5% oxidized oil), or antioxidant-added diet (500 IU vitamin E) for 2 weeks. Blood samples were collected at the end of feeding trial, and breast muscles were sampled immediately after slaughter. Breast meats were also collected 24 h after slaughter and used for meat quality measurements. Oxidative stress in blood, lipid and protein oxidation, and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2(+)-ATPase (SERCA) activity of breast muscle were determined. The oxidized diet increased oxidative stress in blood and increased carbonyl content in breast meat compared with the other two dietary treatments (P < 0.05). Lipid oxidation of breast muscles with the antioxidant-supplemented diet was lower than that with the oxidized and control diet groups (P < 0.05). Meat from birds fed the oxidized diet showed higher drip loss after 1 and 3 days of storage and greater 0-1 h post-mortem pH decline (P < 0.05). Significant differences in specific SERCA activity in breast muscles from birds fed control and oxidized diets (P < 0.05) were detected. This suggested that dietary oxidized oil induced oxidative stress in live birds and increased lipid and protein oxidation in breast muscle. Decrease in SERCA activity in breast muscles due to oxidative stress in live animals accelerated post-mortem glycolysis, which sped the pH drop after slaughter and increased drip loss, indicating that oxidation of diet can cause PSE-like (pale, soft, and exudative) conditions in broiler breast muscles.     

pH Dependence of the progression in NMR T(2) relaxation times in post-mortem muscle

Continuous NMR T(2) relaxation measurements were carried out on seven rabbit longissimus muscle samples in the period from 25 min to 28 h post-mortem at 200 MHz for (1)H. To display differences in post-mortem pH progress and extent of changes in water characteristics during conversion of muscle to meat, three of the seven animals were pre-slaughter injected with adrenaline (0.5 mg/kg live weight 4 h before sacrifice) to differentiate muscle glycogen stores at the time of slaughter. Distributed analysis of T(2) data displayed clear differences in the characteristics of the various transverse relaxation components dependent on progress in pH, as did the water-holding capacity of samples 24 h post-mortem. This reveals a pronounced effect of the progressive change in pH on the subsequent development in physical/chemical states of water during the conversion of muscle to meat. Finally, the relaxation characteristics are discussed in relation to supposed post-mortem processes of protein denaturation.     

Cellular model for induction of drip loss in meat

Drip loss from porcine muscle (M. longissimus dorsi) contained high concentrations of K(+) ( approximately 135 mM) and organic osmolytes, for example, taurine ( approximately 15 mM), as well as significant amounts of protein ( approximately 125 mg.mL(-1)). Thus, the drip reflects release of intramuscular components. To simulate events taking place at the time of slaughter and leading to release of osmolytes and subsequent formation of drip loss, C2C12 myotubes were exposed to anoxia and reduction in pH (from 7.4 to 6.0). Anoxia and acidification increased the cellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) at a rate of 22-32 nM.min(-)(1). The anoxia-induced increase in [Ca(2+)](i) was mainly due to influx via sarcolemmal Na(+) channels. As mammalian cells swell and release lysophospholipids during anoxia, C2C12 cells and primary porcine muscle cells were exposed to either hypotonic shock or lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and the release of taurine was followed. The swelling-induced taurine efflux was blocked in the presence of the anion channel blocker (DIDS), the 5-lipooxygenase inhibitors (ETH 615-139 and NDGA) but unaffected by the presence of vitamin E. In contrast, the LPC-induced taurine release was unaffected by DIDS but abolished by antioxidants (butylated hydroxytoluene and vitamin E). Thus, stress-induced taurine release from muscles may precede by two different mechanisms, one being 5-lipooxygenase dependent and the other involving generation of reactive oxygen species. A model for the cellular events, preceding formation of drip in meat, is presented.     

Effect of tea catechins on regulation of antioxidant enzyme expression in H2O2-induced skeletal muscle cells of goat in vitro

Skeletal muscle cells (SMCs) of goats were stress induced with 1 mM H(2)O(2) in the absence or presence of 0.5, 5, and 50 μg/mL tea catechins (TCs) incubation. Cells were harvested at 48 h postincubation with TCs to investigate the effects of TCs on cell proliferation, cell membrane integrity, antioxidant enzyme activities, and antioxidant enzyme genes and protein expression levels. Results showed that H(2)O(2) induction inhibited cell proliferation with or without TC incubation; moreover, the inhibition effect was enhanced in the presence of TCs (P < 0.001). H(2)O(2)-induced stress increased the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the absence or presence of TC incubation, but concentrations of TCs, less than 5 μg/mL, showed protective functions against LDH leakage than in other H(2)O(2)-induced treatments. The catalase (CAT) activity increased when SMCs were stress induced with H(2)O(2) in the absence or presence of TC incubation (P < 0.001). H(2)O(2)-induced stress decreased CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, whereas this effect was prevented by incubation with TCs in a concentration-dependent manner. H(2)O(2)-induced stress with or without TC incubation had significant effects on mRNA and protein expression levels of CAT, CuZn-SOD, and GPx (P < 0.001). CAT and CuZn-SOD mRNA expression levels were increased by different concentrations of TC incubation, and this tendency was basically consistent with corresponding protein expression levels. The GPx mRNA expression level increased with a low concentration of TCs but decreased with concentrations greater than 5 μg/mL of TCs, whereas GPx protein expression in all TC-incubated groups was lower than in the control treatment. The current findings imply that TCs had an inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and enhanced damage to the cell membrane integrity, but TCs affected antioxidant status in SMCs by modulating antioxidant enzyme activities at mRNA and protein expression levels.     

Post-mortem changes in porcine M. longissimus studied by solid-state 13C cross-polarization magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Solid-state (13)C cross-polarization (CP) magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments are carried out for the first time on rapidly frozen muscle biopsies taken in M. longissimus in vivo and at 1 min, 45 min, and 24 h post-mortem from three pigs. Two of the pigs were CO(2)-stunned (control animals), and one was pre-slaughter-stressed (treadmill exercise) followed by electrical stunning to induce difference in metabolism post-mortem. (13)C resonance signals from saturated and unsaturated carbons in fatty acids, carboxylic carbons, and carbons in lactate and glycogen are identified in the solid-state NMR spectra. The (13)C CP MAS spectra obtained for post-mortem samples of the stressed, electrically stunned pig differ significantly from the post-mortem control samples, as the intensity of a resonance line appearing at 30 ppm, assigned to carbons of the methylene chains, is reduced for the stressed pig. This spectral difference is probably due to changes in lipid mobility and indicates altered membrane properties in the muscle of the stressed/electrically stunned animal when compared with the control animals already 1 min post-mortem. In addition, the post-mortem period changes in glycogen carbons can be estimated from the (13)C CP MAS spectra, yielding a correlation of r = 0.74 to subsequent biochemical determination of the glycogen content.     

低压静电场下不同隔距冻结-解冻对牛肉品质的影响

为研究低压静电场(low voltage electrostatic field,LVEF)辅助冻结-解冻对牛肉品质的影响,采用牛背最长肌作为试验材料,探究与静电场发生板隔距分别为15、30、45、60 cm处(试验组,冻结温度为?18℃,解冻温度为4℃)和自然冻结-解冻(未施加静电场,对照组,条件同上)肉样冻结-解冻过程中的品质变化。对比分析了温度曲线、色泽、解冻汁液流失、汁液中蛋白含量、蒸煮损失及质构特性等指标变化,显微观察肌肉纤维组织中的冰晶形态和肌肉微观结构。结果表明:与对照相比,试验组牛肉在冻结过程中通过最大冰晶生成带时间较短,组织中的冰晶较对照组体积小、数目多、分布均匀;肉样解冻速度较快,解冻后肉色更新鲜,咀嚼性、嫩度较高,解冻汁液流失率、汁液中蛋白含量及蒸煮损失率均显著降低(P0.05);扫描、透射电镜结果表明,试验组肉样解冻后肌肉微观结构遭破坏程度较轻,肌纤维束排列相对紧密。其中,与静电板隔距为30 cm处冻结-解冻的肉样亮度值、红度值和色彩饱和度值分别为39.47、21.77和23.71,显著高于对照组的31.74、17.76和20.73(P0.05);解冻汁液流失率、蒸煮损失率及解冻汁液中蛋白质量分数较对照分别降低4.18、8.28、0.7个百分点,咀嚼性增加32.68 N,差异显著(P0.05)。试验结果表明低压静电场辅助能显著缓解牛肉在冻结和解冻过程中的品质劣变,提高解冻牛肉品质,肉样在与静电板隔距为30 cm处冻结-解冻较为适宜。     

Modifications of trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) muscle proteins by preslaughter activity

The effect of two different preslaughter procedures (limited or 15-min intense muscular activity) on muscle trout proteins was investigated. Muscle was sampled 45 min and 24 h post-mortem, proteins were separated using two-dimensional electrophoresis, and spots of interest were tentatively identified by MALDI-TOF spectrometry. Twenty-nine and 4 spots were differentially represented between the two groups of fish at 45 min and 24 h post-mortem, respectively. Spots that could be identified corresponded mainly to proteins involved in energy-producing pathways (triosephosphate isomerase, enolase, pyruvate dehydrogenase) or to structural proteins (desmin, cap-Z, myosin heavy chain fragment). Persistent under-representation of desmin, a key cytoskeletal protein, in fish submitted to intense muscular activity suggests that such a preslaughter treatment can have an effect on post-mortem muscle integrity.     

Early post-mortem AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation leads to phosphofructokinase-2 and -1 (PFK-2 and PFK-1) phosphorylation and the development of pale, soft, and exudative (PSE) conditions in porcine longissimus muscle

Pale, soft, and exudative (PSE) meat has been recognized for decades. Fast glycolysis during early post-mortem stage while the muscle temperature is still high is the cause of PSE meat. To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying this fast glycolysis in muscle to become PSE meat, post-mortem ATP metabolism, fructose-2,6-diphosphate content, and the activities of AMPK, glycogen phosphorylase, and pyruvate kinase were examined in post-mortem muscle. Earlier and faster post-mortem AMPK activation was responsible for the significantly lower pH and higher lactic acid accumulation (p<0.05) seen in PSE muscle, which resulted in the occurrence of PSE meat. In muscle that became PSE meat, AMPK was activated at 0 h post-mortem and reached maximal activation at 0.5 h post-mortem, whereas AMPK reached maximal activation at 1 h post-mortem in the normal pork loin. Higher fructose-2,6-diphosphate content (p<0.05) was detected in PSE muscle compared to normal muscle at early post-mortem stage. However, no difference in the activities of glycogen phosphorylase and pyruvate kinase, rate-controlling enzymes in glycogenolysis and glycolysis, respectively, was detected between PSE and normal pork loins. Because fructose-2,6-diphosphate is a product of phosphofructokinase-2 (PFK-2), these data suggest that AMPK regulates post-mortem glycolysis through its phosphorylation and activation of PFK-2, which then up-regulates the activity of phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1), a key rate-controlling enzyme in glycolysis. Early AMPK activation in PSE muscle is associated with early consumption of ATP, because higher AMP and IMP contents and lower ATP content were detected in PSE meat compared to normal meat. Other mechanisms causing early AMPK activation in PSE meat may exist, which warrants further investigation.     

Proteome analysis elucidating post-mortem changes in cod (Gadus morhua) muscle proteins

Proteome analysis was successfully applied to study the alterations in fish muscle proteins during ice storage. The processes occurring during post-mortem metabolism are known to lead to characteristic changes in the texture and taste of fish muscle. Endogenous proteases are anticipated to play the major role in these processes, although the exact mechanisms during fish meat tenderization have yet to be depicted. Protein changes in cod (Gadus morhua) muscle were followed during 8 days of storage. Within the partial proteome (pI 3.5-8.0, MW 13-35 kDa) significant changes were found in 11 protein spots. In nine protein spots the intensity increased, and for eight of these the increases were significant (p < 0.05) within the first 2 h post-mortem. In contrast, two protein spots decreasing in intensity showed significant (p < 0.03) changes after 8 days, thereby indicating that in the fish muscle different biochemical processes are involved in the protein changes observed post-mortem.     

Rapid post-mortem glycolysis and delay chilling of turkey carcasses cause alterations to protein extractability and degradation of breast muscle proteins.

SDS-PAGE banding patterns of myofibrillar protein samples from turkey breast muscle with pH < or =5.8 at 15 min post-mortem (rapid glycolyzing) contained 133, 142, and 165 kDa bands that were absent in samples from carcasses with pH >6.0 at 15 min post-mortem (normal glycolyzing). These extra protein bands contained fragments of myosin as identified by Western blot analysis. Myosin fragments were also observed in protein samples from breast muscle not allowed to cool until 110 min post-mortem (delay chilled). In addition to myosin degradation, neublin degradation was more extensive in samples from rapid glycolyzing carcasses than for normal controls. Creatine kinase and glycogen phosphorylase were present in myofibrillar protein extracts of rapid glycolyzing carcasses in higher quantities than in normal controls. Results of this study provide insight into the molecular basis for previously reported reductions in meat quality of rapid glycolyzing and delay chilled turkey meat.     

NO-AMPK通路对牛肉宰后成熟过程中蛋白特性与肉品质的影响

为研究宰后NO-AMPK通路对牛肉蛋白特性及肉品质的影响,以一氧化氮合成酶(NOS)抑制剂L-NAME、一磷酸腺苷活化蛋白激酶(AMPK)抑制剂Compound C处理的牛臀股四头肌为研究对象,生理盐水处理作为对照,将肉样与处理液在4℃条件下1:1(g:mL)混合浸泡12 h后,在成熟0、6、12、24、48、72、120 h测定肉样的蛋白功能特性、保水性、嫩度以及肌肉组织结构等相关指标。结果显示,L-NAME组中一氧化氮NO含量在6~72 h显著低于对照组(P<0.05);3组中AMPK活性先增大后减小,L-NAME组和Compound C组中AMPK活性在6 h分别比对照组降低14.78%和26.75%;L-NAME组中总蛋白溶解性在6、24 h低于Compound C组,高于对照组(P<0.05),表面疏水性在12、48 h显著低于对照组(P<0.05)并高于Compound C组;L-NAME组中剪切力仅在48 h显著高于对照组并低于Compound C组(P<0.05);对照组中肉样蒸煮损失最大,Compound C组中肉样蒸煮损失最小。以上结果表明,牛肉宰后成熟过程中,NO能够通过AMPK通路改善牛肉嫩度,但对其保水性产生了不利影响。本研究结果可为牛肉宰后能量代谢及肉品质控制相关研究提供一定的理论基础。     

Elucidation of membrane destabilization in post-mortem muscles using an extracellular paramagnetic agent (Gd-DTPA): an NMR study

The effect of Gd-DTPA on the development in NMR relaxation of skeletal rabbit muscles post-mortem was investigated by dynamic low-field (0.47 T) relaxation measurements from 4 min post-mortem and until 23 h post-mortem. Twelve rabbits were included in the study, and half of the animals were administered 0.2 mmol of Gd-DTPA iv 15 min before sacrifice, while the other half was administered an isotonic salt solution. A significant effect of Gd-DTPA treatment corresponding to a 25% reduction in the T(1) relaxation time was observed. T(2) relaxation was decomposed into two components reflecting intra- and extracellular components (T(2)()alpha and T(2)()beta, respectively), and Gd-DTPA treatment was found to affect both components. However, around 150 min post-mortem a dramatic increase in the difference between control and Gd-DTPA-treated rabbits was observed in the relaxation time of the intracellular water population (T(2)()alpha). Electrical stimulation of the muscles resulted in a significantly earlier onset of the increased effect of Gd-DTPA on the T(2)()alpha population. The increased effect of Gd-DTPA treatment on the T(2)()alpha component is believed to reflect leakage of water from the muscle cells due to membrane destabilization, known to be promoted by electrical stimulation. Accordingly, the present study demonstrates how Gd-DTPA can be used for probing membrane integrity in post-mortem muscles known to be of importance for subsequent water distribution and final water-holding capacity.     

猪UCP3基因多态性及其与脂肪沉积、肉质性状的相关分析

在QTL定位的基础上选取猪解偶联蛋白3(UCP3)作为控制脂肪沉积性状和肉质性状的候选基因。对猪UCP3基因的部分编码区进行了测序，在395 bp处发现了1个cSNP位点。该cSNP位点发生G→A突变，并导致相应编码氨基酸由甘氨酸→精氨酸的改变。该位点可以被限制性内切酶SmaⅠ识别。利用PCR-RFLP方法，对186头大白×梅山F2资源家系进行UCP3片段SmaⅠ位点分析，发现AA、AB和BB三种基因型，其中A等位基因频率0.56，B 0.44。经统计分析发现，在该F2群体中，UCP3 SmaⅠ位点多态性与脂肪沉积性状中胸腰椎间膘厚、臀部膘厚显著相关；与肉质性状中的肌内脂肪、系水力和失水率显著相关。UCP3 SmaⅠ位点主要表现为加性效应，基因型AA降低膘厚，提高系水力和降低失水率，但同时也降低肌内脂肪含量。     

Fucoxanthin enhances HO-1 and NQO1 expression in murine hepatic BNL CL.2 cells through activation of the Nrf2/ARE system partially by its pro-oxidant activity

To determine whether fucoxanthin, a major carotenoid in brown sea algae, may activate cellular antioxidant enzymes via up-regulation of the Nrf2/antioxidant-response element (ARE) pathway, we incubated mouse hepatic BNL CL.2 cells with fucoxanthin (0.5-20 μM) for 0-24 h. We found that fucoxanthin (≥5 μM) significantly increased cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) at 6 h of incubation, whereas preincubation with α-d-tocopherol (30 μM) significantly attenuated the increase of ROS, indicating the pro-oxidant nature of fucoxanthin. Fucoxanthin significantly increased the phosphorylation of ERK and p38 and markedly increased nuclear Nrf2 protein accumulation after incubation for 12 h. Moreover, fucoxanthin significantly enhanced binding activities of nuclear Nrf2 with ARE and increased mRNA and protein expression of HO-1 and NQO1 after incubation for 12 h. siRNA inhibition of Nrf2 led to markedly decreased HO-1 and NQO1 protein expression. Thus, fucoxanthin may exert its antioxidant activity, at least partly, through its pro-oxidant actions.     

Cloning of Heart-type Fatty Acid-binding Protein (H-FABP ) Gene of Swine and Difference of Its Expression at Different Stages

从1, 30, 50, 70和90 kg左右的杜长大猪肌肉组织中提取基因组RNA，用RT-PCR扩增猪心型脂肪酸结合蛋白(H-FABP）基因，获得1条211 bp的片段，以pGEM-T 为载体，将该基因片段克隆到大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli ) DH5α中。从筛选到的阳性克隆中分离出脂肪酸结合蛋白基因，测定其序列。分析表明,该片段为脂肪酸结合蛋白基因cDNA的部分序列，与已报道的猪肌肉组织中的H-FABP cDNA部分序列同源性达到99%。以H-FABP基因片段的克隆为基础，构建了优化的半定量RT-PCR法，以18S rRNA为内标，研究不同生长阶段猪肌肉组织中H-FABP基因表达的差异。结果表明，从出生到50 kg，猪H-FABP基因表达呈下降趋势；50～90 kg阶段, H-FABP基因的表达又有所上升。     

猪NDUFS7基因的染色体定位、克隆和表达谱分析

利用辐射杂种克隆板对猪NDUFS7( NADH dehydrogenase(ubiquinone)Fe-S protein7)基因进行了染色体定位,克隆了该基因的完整CDS序列,用相关软件进行了基因结构和功能的预测,并用半定量RT-PCR技术分析了NDUFS7基因在猪的11种组织以及在33、65和90d胚胎和成年猪骨骼肌中的相对表达水平。结果表明,将NDUFS7基因定位于猪的2号染色体2q21-q24,与标记SW395紧密连锁。该基因的CDS全长648bp,编码215个氨基酸,预测编码的产物具有一个高度保守且与能量生成有关的NouB结构域和3个激酶的磷酸化位点。同时,半定量RT-PCR结果显示,NDUFS7基因在猪的11种组织中均有表达,但表达量有差异;在65和90d胚胎骨骼肌中的表达量较高,而在33d胚胎和成年猪骨骼肌中的表达量相对较低。     

Protease activity in post-mortem red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) muscle stored in modified atmosphere packaging

Protease activity during storage is thought to be an important contributor to decreased shelf life of fresh seafood. To examine this, three batches of red swamp crayfish ( Procambarus clarkii) tails, placed on trays, were packed with a polyvinyl chloride film (aerobic packaging or AP), under vacuum (vacuum packaging or VP), or under a modified atmosphere (MAP: 80% CO 2/10% O 2/10% N 2), and proteolytic activity was measured on days 0, 1, 3, 6, and 10 during storage at 2 degrees C. The crude extract from the crayfish digestive system (gut) did not have an apparent role in muscle proteolysis as negligible proteolytic activity was detected. However, the loss of calpastatin (the endogenous calpain inhibitor) was identified in MAP-stored muscle samples on day 10, suggestive of high m-calpain activity. Tail samples stored in AP showed no appreciable proteolysis, but those stored in MAP and VP showed significant decreases in the levels of 53, 66, 71, and 110 kDa polypeptides during storage. The observed proteolytic activity and myofibrillar protein degradation did not correspond to muscle textural properties as the MAP samples had an increased toughness ( P < 0.05) after storage for 10 days. These findings suggest that other physicochemical mechanisms are involved in postmortem alteration in the crayfish muscle structure under the packaging systems investigated.     

Anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects of naringenin in diabetic mice

Renal protective effects of naringenin at 0.5, 1, and 2% of the diet in diabetic mice were examined. Naringenin supplemented at 1 and 2% increased its deposit in liver and kidney of diabetic mice. Compared with the diabetic control group, naringenin treatments at 1 and 2% lowered plasma levels of glucose and blood urea nitrogen, as well as increased insulin level and creatinine clearance (P < 0.05). Naringenin treatments dose-dependently reduced renal tumor necrosis factor-α level and expression (P < 0.05) but only at 1 and 2% significantly decreased production and expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (P < 0.05). Naringenin intake at 2% decreased renal formation and expression of type IV collagen, fibronectin, and transforming growth factor-β1 (P < 0.05). This compound at 1 and 2% lowered protein kinase C activity and suppressed nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65 activity, mRNA expression, and protein production in kidney. However, this agent only at 2% diminished NF-κB p50 activity, mRNA expression, and protein production (P < 0.05). These results indicate that naringenin could attenuate diabetic nephropathy via its anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic activities.