Postmortem metabolism of glycogen in the muscles of healthy pigs and pigs with the malignant hyperthermia syndrome.

: Post mortem glycolysis patterns were investigated in healthy pigs and in pigs with malignant hyperthermia syndrome (MHS). The beginning of glycolysis in the muscle of MHS-sensitive pigs is shifted, it is earlier than in the muscles of MHS-resistant animals. This earlier beginning is documented by lower glycogen values, higher lactate values, and also by the lower pH value as soon as 15 minutes after the slaughter of animals in this group. In the muscles of pigs with malignant hyperthermia syndrome the process of glycolysis is accelerated by the pre-slaughter stress. This is demonstrated first of all by a faster increase in the lactate content and by a faster decrease in the pH value in all periods of investigation. No discernible acceleration in the glycolysis pattern following the stress was observed in the MHS-resistant pigs. Glycogen depletion occurred in both groups of animals in all three types of muscles, the highest loss was recorded in white fibers.