The objective of this study was to investigate the potential contribution of apoptosis related downstream executioner caspase3 to post mortem skeletal muscle proteolysis by use of caspase3 selective inhibitor DEVD-CHO (N-acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-CHO). After slaughter, four chicken breast muscles were removed and cut into small pieces, then marinated in treatment solution containing DEVD-CHO, or in control solution, and stored at 4 degrees C for 1, 3 or 7 d. Meat samples were obtained and used for detecting muscle protein degradation or calpain activity. Results showed that DEVD-CHO had inhibited the degradation of muscle skeletal proteins (titin, nebulin, desmin and troponin-T) significantly, whereas the activity of calpains had not been influenced. Therefore, the degradation of muscle proteins should not been exclusively attributed to the calpain system, and the effector caspase3 may be a new protease involved in meat post mortem tenderization. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.