3.8. Muscle structure
Light microscope images taken on transverse sections of control,
PEF and water bath treated muscle at ×40 magnification are shown
in Fig. 5. Muscle fibre bundles appear smaller in diameter for PEF
samples compared to the control and water bath treated samples,
a similar result was observed in chicken (Gudmundsson &
Hafsteinsson, 2001). This may be due to greater water loss from
these samples immediately post PEF treatment, leaving the muscle fibres
with less volume. Water bath treated samples appear more swollen
compared to the control and PEF treated samples. More work
needs to be done to quantify these findings.