Influence on post-mortem rigor of fish body and muscular ATP consumption by the destruction of spinal cord in several fishes

Influence of destruction of spinal cord on the post-mortem rigor and muscular ATP consumption was examined in yellowtail, red sea bream, and plaice. In case of yellowtail and red sea bream, the sample whose spinal cord was destroyed (tested sample) showed 6-12 hours delay in reaching full-rigor compared with the control sample. On the other hand, in case of plaice, the tested sample attained full-rigor faster than the control, and the control sample did not reach to full-rigor during 24 h storage. Rate of ATP consumption was slower in the tested than the control in yellowtail and red sea bream. In case of plaice, the ATP content was almost the same in both of the tested and the control, and was much in the control for 15-24 h storage. Then, it was concluded that destruction of the spinal cord delayed ATP consumption and process of post-mortem rigor except for the case of plaice, and such a specialty of plaice would be caused by the inferiority of autonomic nerve development.