Effect of wooden breast degree on lipid and protein oxidation and citrate synthase activity of chicken pectoralis major muscle

In this study, 154 pectoralis major breast muscles from three chicken age groups were separated into different severity levels of wooden breast condition by manual palpation to investigate the changes of lipid and protein oxidation and citrate synthase activity. TBARS values, carbonyl contents and loss of free thiol groups were greater (P < 0.05) in the superficial (ventral) part of severe wooden breast samples, whereas no clear change was found in the deep (dorsal) part. Mitochondrial citrate synthase activity declined with increasing severity of wooden breast myopathy. Both bird age and wooden breast degree showed significant main effects on these indicators, while no interaction effect was observed. Moreover, there were significant correlations between lipid and protein oxidation and citrate synthase activity. Here, we propose a hypothesis that lipid and protein damages and mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to the aggravation of the wooden breast myopathy.