Mechanism of Delayed Convulsion in Fish: The Actions of Norepinephrine in Spinal Cord

Cranial spiking (CS) is among the most popular slaughtering methods for delaying rigor mortis progress of fish muscles. However, it may cause a convulsion (subsequently referred to as delayed convulsion), which undermines meat quality and taste. This study aimed elucidate mechanism underlying examine its influence on ATP consumption. Ten carps, nine tilapias, ten rainbow trouts, two ayus, three greenling, thirty-five red seabreams, striped jack stone flounders underwent CS around medulla oblongata area, induced different profiles specific each species. To investigate norepinephrine (NE) actions related convulsion, 27 representative species that exhibits were treated with monoamine-depleting agent, reserpine, or monoamine oxidase inhibitor, pargyline, hours before CS. Spinal cord destruction (SCD) was employed completely prevent spinal functions in another group. Compared control group (CS only), SCD groups showed significantly inhibited suggests main ATP-consuming response. Our findings suggest clonic seabreams associated rapid decrease NE levels, triggered rebound motor neuron hyperactivity.