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Rigor mortis: mechanisms and consequences.

Rigor mortis : mécanismes et conséquences.

Author(s) : COTTIN P., DUCASTAING A.

Summary

The rigidity state (also called rigor mortis) that follows the death of fish is essentially characterized by a loss of tissue elasticity and an appearance of a characteristic tightness. Rigor mortis has so far considered the result of postmortem metabolism. Glycolysis reactions on the one hand and ATP on the other lead to a significant decrease of the muscle pH value, which induces an important release of calcium ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The binding of these ions to some specific regulatory proteins such as troponim, plus the presence of residual ATP molecules produce strong myosin-actin interactions (rigor complex), which is similar to that observed during normal muscle contraction. The biochemical and physico-chemical evolution of post-mortem muscle leads to a kind of structureal continuity in the muscle cells and a sticking of protein filaments that irremediably decreases the elasticity of muscle tissue; fish body comes into a state called rigor mortis. The resolution of this state, which corresponds to an important decrease in muscle rigidity, is due to proteolytic activities targetting many substrates that originally were involved in muscle tissue cohesion.

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Details

  • Original title: Rigor mortis : mécanismes et conséquences.
  • Record ID : 1997-0953
  • Languages: French
  • Source: Refrigeration and Aquaculture.
  • Publication date: 1996/03/20
  • Document available for consultation in the library of the IIR headquarters only.

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