PHOTOMICROGRAPHIC STUDIES OF DYNAMIC CHANGES IN MUSCLE FIBER FRAGMENTS .1. EFFECT OF VARIOUS HEAT TREATMENTS ON LENGTH WIDTH AND BIREFRINGENCE

SUMMARY– Photomicrographs were made of muscle fiber fragments as the stage of the microscope was heated from room temperature to 80°C, or as fibers were held at 37, 45, 53, 61, 69, or 77°C on the heated stage for an hour. The possible relationship of changes in width, length and in birefringence brought about by heating to loss of moisture, water‐holding properties, loss of acidic groups, and changes in tenderness are discussed. Changes in width appeared to be related to changes in water‐holding capacity. Changes in length and loss of birefringence were related to loss of acidic groups, to coagulation of proteins, to volume change in cooked meat, and to changes in tenderness. Copyright © 1968, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved