In a study aimed at determining the impact of definite states on the tensile properties of the white muscle of cultured Chinook salmon, a report was made (Jerret, Stevens and Holland, 1996). The aforementioned research paper covers the research methods used, results and the general conclusion. This paper critique covers a review on the problems noted in the experimental design, importance of the results and the future study as well.
Problems in the Experimental design
Interestingly, when fish recruited the white muscle they shifted from their ‘steady’ state to a 'busty' state. Subsequent work on the fish showed that the intermediate pink muscle was recruited at steady intermediate speed. The biomechanics of the fish muscle explains well the faster muscle exhibited in the fish. Typically, the muscle fibers are defined by their mechanical properties and their metabolic properties as well. The mechanical properties are indicated by measurements of the maximum velocity of shortening the activation rate; the generation of force and the rate of muscle relaxation. The muscle energy rate is defined as generally proportional to overall muscle speed. In the study, failures of muscle fibers were experienced across muscle fibers and connective tissues as well as failure across connective tissues.
Usually, the splenic record is used to survey the insusceptible capacity and illness resistance. In the study, it was incorporated to determine if cortisol treatment debilitated fish versatility in contrast to the sham-treated and control groups (Jerrett, Stevens & Holland, 1996). The gonadosomatic index was used in assessing survey adjustments in regenerative endocrine capacity. This was aimed at showing the potential outcome of conceptive debilitation of a treatment group.
The obtained results indicated that salmon muscles in fish are currently not good enough for mechanical properties. The mechanical properties determined the effect of various durations of electrical stimulation of the salmon muscle. The breaking force, deformation, and work of penetration were also measured.
Importance of the results
The experimentation on the fish additionally provides considerable insight into myofilament overlaps in vertebrates. For this reason, during the caudal fin propulsion, most fish tend to bend their backbones. By a combination of high-speed mathematical approach which relates to backbone curvature, it is observed that at low swimming speed in carp, the white muscle, which powers this movement, undergoes excursion. Further, the most extreme moment of the carp is used for escape response which involves far greater backbone curve. By the virtue of possessing different fiber orientation, the white muscles can execute many different movements compared to other muscles. On the other hand, the red muscle is considered one that runs parallel to the long axis of the fish just beneath the skin. The white fibers, by contrast, run in a helical orientation on the long axis of the fish.
Future Study
In future observations, it should be noted that fish perform various motor activities. This requires a greater diversity of different muscle properties. A closer look at the muscle properties and their relative usage reveals that each component of the muscle system appears to be adjusted appropriately to its function.
It has been noted that increased muscle speed results in increased energetic cost. As such, a basic tenet of the design of the muscular system should be that the muscle speed is adjusted to “sufficiently fast” in order to perform given activities. It should, however, not be faster than necessary, as this would involve a large waste of energy hence exhaustion as seen in the observation of salmon fish muscle.
Reference
Jerrett, A. R., Stevens, J., & Holland, A. J. (1996). Tensile properties of white muscle in rested and exhausted Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Journal of Food Science, 61(3), 527-532.
