POSTMORTEM CHANGE OF 3-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE OF COLLAGEN FIBRILLAR NETWORK IN FISH MUSCLE PERICELLULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUES CORRESPONDING TO POSTMORTEM TENDERIZATION

The three-dimensional structure of a collagen fibrillar network was ex amined by using a cell-maceration/SEM method combined with measuring t he breaking strength of rainbow trout, yellowtail, and tiger puffer mu scles. Rainbow trout and yellowtail muscles were tenderized during sto rage, but tiger puffer muscle showed no tenderization even after 72 h storage. According to histological observations, the thickness of peri cellular connective tissue in rainbow trout and yellowtail muscles bec ame thinner, and the density of their collagenous fibrils decreased du ring 24 h storage. On the other hand, no structural change was observe d during 72 h storage in tiger puffer muscle. These results showed tha t the structural change in the collagen fibrillar network corresponded to the post-mortem tenderization. This result agreed well with previo us light microscope and transmission electron microscope observations.