THE EFFECTS OF PRERIGOR SODIUM-BICARBONATE PERFUSION ON THE QUALITY OF PORCINE MUSCULUS-SEMIMEMBRANOSUS

The effect of prerigor sodium bicarbonate (SBC) perfusion on the quali ty of porcine semimembranosus muscle was tested in 8 pigs, heterozygou s for the halothane gene. Perfusion via the iliac artery was initiated at 15 min postmortem. For each carcass, one side was perfused with 4 L of 0.75 M SBC and one side with 0.7% saline. None of the sampled mus cles was PSE quality. SBC treatment resulted in a doubling of the musc le sodium content, indicating that about 5% of the perfused SBC was ab sorbed. Although the ultimate pH of SBC samples was higher (p < 0.05) than the pH of controls, the difference was smaller than expected. L- value and drip losses were lowered (p < 0.05) by SBC treatment. These results suggest that it may be possible to reduce PSE by prerigor appl ication of SBC. Further studies an optimum delivery (perfusion versus infusion) and SBC concentration are needed.