Effects of the terminal sire type and sex on pork muscle cathepsins (B, B+L and H), cysteine proteinase inhibitors and lipolytic enzyme activities

Pork muscle cathepsins (B, B + L, and H), cysteine proteinase inhibitors an d lipolytic enzyme activities were measured in the offspring of five differ ent genetic sire types: Danish Duroc (DU), Dutch Large White (LWD), English Large White (LWE), Belgian Landrace x Landrace (BLxLR) and Belgian Landrac e (BL). Cathepsin B and B + L activities were higher for LWE and LWD sires than for BLxLR and BL. Cathepsin H activity showed an opposite evolution, b eing higher for BL and BLxLR sires than for DU, LWD and LWE. Cysteine prote inase inhibitor activity was higher for LWE sires than for DU and BL. In li polytic enzymes, BL sires had a lower acid lipase activity than DU and LWE sires and also a lower neutral esterase activity than LWE and LWD sires. Si gnificant differences between sexes were found for cathepsin H activity onl y, being higher for females. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.