Contributions of Blood and Blood Components to Lipid Oxidation in Fish Muscle

There was a wide variation in the amounts of hemoglobin extracted from the muscle tissue of bled and unbled fish. Averaged values suggested that the residual blood level in the muscle of bled fish was substantial. Myoglobin content was minimal as compared to hemoglobin content in mackerel light muscle and trout whole muscle. Hemoglobin made up 65 and 56% of the total heme protein by weight in dark muscle from unbled and bled mackerel, respectively. Bleeding significantly reduced rancidity in minced trout whole muscle, minced mackerel light muscle, and intact mackerel dark muscle but not minced mackerel dark muscle stored at 2 degrees C. The reduction was in the number of fish that had a longer shelf life; muscle from certain bled fish had rancidity that was comparable to the rancidity in unbled controls. The soluble contents of erythrocytes accounted for all of the lipid oxidation capacity of whole blood added to washed cod muscle. Limiting lysis of erythrocytes delayed lipid oxidation, which was likely due to keeping hemoglobin inside the erythrocyte. Apparent breakdown of lipid hydroperoxides occurred only when a critical level of hemoglobin was present. Blood plasma was slightly inhibitory to oxidation of washed cod lipids. These studies suggest that blood-mediated lipid oxidation in fish muscle depends on various factors that include hemoglobin concentration, types of hemoglobin, plasma volume, and erythrocyte integrity.