ISSN:
1745-4573
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
The distribution pattern of proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix of M. semimembranosus from young bulls was studied in frozen tissue sections by immunohistochemical methods. The small proteoglycan, decorin, was found widely distributed in both perimysial and endomysial layers. Another member of the same proteoglycan family, fibromodulin, could only be seen associated with the fiber bundles of the perimysium. Furthermore, aggrecan-like proteoglycans were detected mainly in the perimysium with a different staining pattern than decorin and fibromodulin. A basement membrane type heparan sulfate proteoglycan was present only in the endomysium, with particularly strong staining in the junctions of endomysial layers between neighboring myofibers. The distribution of proteoglycans in the peri- and endomysium of striated muscle tissue influences the organization of the collagen fibrils and, therefore, the texture and strength of muscle matrix. Proteoglycans should be considered a component of muscle influencing meat tenderness.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-4573.1997.tb00622.x
