Effect of selection for growth rate on muscle damage during turkey breast muscle development.
Damage to the turkey pectoralis major muscle was studied in a randombred control line (RBC2), a subline (F) from the RBC2 line selected long-term for increased 16-wk BW only, and a commercial sire line (B) at 25 d of incubation and at 1, 4, 8, 16, and 20 wk posthatch. Pectoralis major muscle samples were obtained from three females and three males from each line in a manner to avoid contraction. After being fixed and sectioned, the muscle samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin to view muscle fiber and muscle fiber bundle morphology. Beginning at 8 wk posthatch, differences in muscle fiber morphology were observed among the different lines. The RBC2 line throughout the duration of the study maintained well-organized muscle fibers and muscle fiber bundles with large capillary networks. In contrast, the growth-selected F line began to show muscle fiber degeneration at 8 wk posthatch, and limited capillary beds were observed as development proceeded. The B line had intermediate muscle morphology between the RBC2 and F lines, but by 20 wk posthatch significant muscle fiber degeneration was present with limited capillary supply. The degenerative muscle fiber changes were predominant in the growth-selected F-line, suggesting that growth selection for just BW may be associated with posthatch muscle damage.
Velleman
S G
SG
Department of Animal Sciences, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA. velleman.1@osu.edu
Anderson
J W
JW
Coy
C S
CS
Nestor
K E
KE
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D014422:Turkeys / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*