Microstructure of muscles between crisp grass carp and common grass carp

【Objective】Muscle microstructure of crisp grass carp and common grass carp was compared to provide scientific references for meat processing of crisp grass carp.【Method】Morphological characteristics of dorsal white muscle,dorsal red muscle and abdominal white muscle of crisp grass carp and common grass carp were observed under microscope after paraffinembedded tissue section and hematoxylin-eosin staining.Muscle fiber differences between crisp grass carp and common grass carp were compared judging from muscle diameter and density.【Result】Fundamental structure of dorsal white muscle,dorsal red muscle and abdominal white muscle of crisp grass carp and common grass carp was the same.Muscle fiber diameter of dorsal white muscle from crisp grass carp(67.6 μm) was significantly smaller than that of common grass carp(109.4 μm)(P0.05,the same below).Muscle fiber density of dorsal white muscle(249/mm2) was significantly larger than that of common grass carp(121/mm2).There were no significant differences of muscle fiber diameter and density of dorsal red muscle and abdominal white muscle from crisp grass carp and common grass carp(P0.05).【Conclusion】There were certain relationships between muscle fiber density and diameter and muscle hardness of crisp grass carp and common grass carp.