EFFECT OF CASTRATION ON SOME PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTOSTRUCTURE OF RABBIT MUSCLE

This study was conducted with 22 male New Zealand white rabbits. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of castration and Immunoprot a combination of two antioxidants – d-limonene and Vitamin E treatment on some physico-chemical characteristics and morphological features of skeletal muscles. The rabbits were divided into 3 groups: I group – castrated and treated with Immunoprotect - GrCI; II group – only castrated - GrC and III group – non-castrated - GrNC. The experimental period lasted 2 months. m. Longissimus lumborum and m. Semimembranosus were used for analyses. In both muscles castrated rabbits exhibited significantly higher levels of lipids, pH values and water holding capacity than other two groups - CrCI and GrNC. There were no group differences in the muscle content of proteins, dry matter and mineral substances. The castration of male rabbits two months before slaughtering lead to increased fat deposition but this has no marked effect on meat quality. The treatment with Immunoprotect protect lipid accumulation in muscles which could be in part due to the combined effect of two antioxidants – Vitamin E and d-limonene.