The onset of rigor mortis in various muscles of the draught horse.
Abstract: No abstract available
Publication Date: 1953-08-01 PubMed ID: 13085336PubMed Central: PMC1366076DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.1953.sp004947Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research paper explores the onset of rigor mortis in draught horse muscles and its correlation with Adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) levels. The study confirms that loss of extensibility characteristic of rigor mortis is linked to decrease in ATP.
Thesis and Objective of the Research
- The research was aimed at investigating the onset of rigor mortis in different muscles of a draught horse. Concerning Bate-Smith & Bendall’s earlier research on rabbits, it correlates the onset of rigor mortis with the rapidly falling ATP levels in the muscles.
The Role of ATP and Glycogen Reserve
- The onset and progression of rigor mortis are found to be related to ATP and glycogen reserves in the muscles. ATP is responsible for muscle extensibility, and its decrease marks the onset of rigor mortis.
- According to the research, for muscles with the same initial pH level, the onset of rigor mortis depends on the amount of glycogen reserve present.
- As long as the muscles have a glycogen supply, anaerobic glycolysis can continue, producing ATP from adenosinediphoephate (ADP), thereby maintaining muscle extensibility.
The Role of Creatine Phosphate (CP)
- However, ATP levels and muscle extensibility are not maintained solely by the synthesis of ATP from glycolysis. The level of creatine phosphate (CP), which serves as a reservoir for ATP formation, also plays an essential role.
- Regardless of the glycogen reserves, ATP levels rapidly diminish when about 80% of the initially present CP has been broken down.
Comparative Observations in Different Muscles
- The research covers comparative observations made on the onset of rigor mortis in various horse muscles including heart, diaphragm, longissimus dorsi, and psoas.
- The study confirms the previous assumption that the loss of extensibility, characteristic of rigor mortis, is associated with a decrease in ATP levels across all studied muscles.
- However, it’s observed that the muscles of horses studied don’t lose their extensibility substantially until the ATP levels decrease to 30% of their initial value, unlike the rabbit’s psoas muscles where the onset occurs at 60-65%.
- The maintenance of ATP levels in these muscles depends significantly on the CP reserves, and the extent of this dependence varies across different muscles.
Cite This Article
APA
LAWRIE RA.
(1953).
The onset of rigor mortis in various muscles of the draught horse.
J Physiol, 121(2), 275-288.
https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.1953.sp004947 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Humans
- Muscles
- Rigor Mortis
References
This article includes 8 references
- BAILEY K. The effects of sulphydryl reagents on glycolysis in muscle homogenates.. Biochim Biophys Acta 1952;9(2):133-40.
- MARSH BB. Observations on rigor mortis in whale muscle.. Biochim Biophys Acta 1952;9(2):127-32.
- Needham DM. The adenosinetriphosphatase activity of myosin preparations.. Biochem J 1942 Feb;36(1-2):113-20.
- Bate-Smith EC, Bendall JR. Rigor mortis and adenosine-triphosphate.. J Physiol 1947 Jun 2;106(2):177-85.
- BENDALL JR. The shortening of rabbit muscles during rigor mortis; its relation to the breakdown of adenosine triphosphate and creatine phosphate and to muscular contraction.. J Physiol 1951 Jun;114(1-2):71-88.
- LAWRIE RA. Biochemical differences between red and white muscle.. Nature 1952 Jul 19;170(4316):122-3.
- Allen RJ. The estimation of phosphorus.. Biochem J 1940 Jun;34(6):858-65.
- BATE-SMITH EC, BENDALL JR. Factors determining the time course of rigor mortis.. J Physiol 1949 Dec 15;110(1-2):47-65.
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Raspa F, Dinardo FR, Vervuert I, Bergero D, Bottero MT, Pattono D, Dalmasso A, Vinassa M, Valvassori E, Bruno E, De Palo P, Valle E. A Fibre- vs. cereal grain-based diet: Which is better for horse welfare? Effects on intestinal permeability, muscle characteristics and oxidative status in horses reared for meat production. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2022 Mar;106(2):313-326.
- LAWRIE RA, MANNERS DJ, WRIGHT A. alpha-1:4-Glucosans. 10. Glycogen structure and rigor mortis in mammalian muscles. Biochem J 1959 Nov;73(3):485-90.
- DORING G. [Studies on the relations of postmortem metabolism to rigor mortis of the myocardium]. Dtsch Z Gesamte Gerichtl Med 1963;53:163-74.
- DOTZAUER G. [Idiomuscular swelling & postmortal hemorrhage in sudden death]. Dtsch Z Gesamte Gerichtl Med 1958;46(5):761-71.
- PARKER VH. The effect of 3:5-dinitroortho-cresol on phosphocreatine and the adenosine phosphate compounds of rat tissues. Biochem J 1954 Jul;57(3):381-6.
- Newbold RP, Scopes RK. Post-mortem glycolysis in ox skeletal muscle. Effect of temperature on the concentrations of glycolytic intermediates and cofactors. Biochem J 1967 Oct;105(1):127-36.
- Parsons AL, Parsons JL, Blanshard JM, Lawrie RA. Electrophoretic differentiaion f myofibrillar proteins in the pig. Biochem J 1969 May;112(5):673-8.
- Döring G, Forster B, Kauls HP. [Primary dilatation of animal muscle in the early post mortem period]. Z Rechtsmed 1970;67(2):87-98.
- Zink P. [The mechanical behaviour of human skeleton muscle during the course of rigor mortis]. Z Rechtsmed 1972;71(1):47-63.
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