Does the stress response in cattle interfere with muscle mitochondrial function and regulation of calpastatin activity?

• Grant number: 21/10205-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2022
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Production
• Principal Investigator: Saulo da Luz e Silva
• Grantee: Patricia Maloso Ramos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Beef tenderization is the result of a complex network involving events that starts immediately after animals stunning and exsanguination, while there is still oxygen within the muscle to allow mitochondrial function. Intracellular modifications that could interfere with tenderization are related with the ability to deal with the inherent stress during slaughter, and that were differently built between animals by their handling experiences and genetic inheritance. In this context, it is possible to imply that temperamental animals are those that throughout their lives will react with greater impetus during handling. The joint activation and the repetitive stimulus of the sympathetic-adrenal-medullar system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis can be determinant to maintain a chronical stress situation and, therefore, be reflected as a more temperamental animal. In the muscle, the effects can include mitochondrial respiratory chain protein expression modulation, as well as protein phosphorylation which increases calpastatin inhibitory activity and limits the tenderization rate and extension. The main objective of this proposal is to understand the relationship between animals with excitable temperament, increased mitochondrial function and calpastatin activity, resulting in reduced beef quality when compared with beef from calm animals. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

RAMOS, PATRICIA M.; SCHEFFLER, TRACY L.; BELINE, MARIANE; BODMER, JOCELYN; GERRARD, DAVID E.; SILVA, SAULO LUZ. Challenges and opportunities of using Bos indicus cattle to meet consumers' demand for quality beef. MEAT SCIENCE, v. 207, p. 12-pg., 2023-11-03. (21/10205-5)

RAMOS, PATRICIA MALOSO; DELGADO, EDUARDO FRANCISQUINE; DA SILVA, ANA CLAUDIA; CONSOLO, NARA REGINA BRANDAO; HERREIRA, VINICIUS LAERTE SILVA; VALIM, JOAO MARCOS BOVETTO DE CAMPOS; OCAMPOS, FERNANDA MARIA MARINS; COLNAGO, LUIZ ALBERTO; DA LUZ E SILVA, SAULO. Temperament Upregulates Mitochondrial Enzymes and Negatively Affects Myofibrillar Fragmentation in Beef of Excitable Bos taurus indicus Cattle. METABOLITES, v. 15, n. 1, p. 19-pg., 2025-01-01. (21/10205-5, 23/11605-2)