횟감용 활어의 육질을 향상시키는 새로운 방법을 개발하기 위한 기초연구로서, 전기자극 처리가 사후 조기의 횟감용 어육의 물리화학적 및 물성적 변화에 미치는 영향에 대하여 검토한 결과는 다음과 같다. 전기자극시킨 경우에 사후경직의 진행이 촉진되었으나, 전기자극 시간에 따른 사후경직 진행속도에는 큰 차이가 없었다. 한편, 전기자극 시간이 길어질수록 최고 경직 이후의 저하속도가 빨랐다. 치사직후의 어육 중의 ATP함량은 즉살에서 가장 높았으며, 전기자극 시간이 길어질 수록 ATP분해는 촉진되었다. ATP가 완전히 분해되는 시간은 전기자극 15초에서 16시간, 전기자극 35초에서 11시간, 전기자극 60초에서 5시간, 그리고 즉살에서 32시간이었다. 또, 분해속도 상수는 각각 $0.244hr^{-1},;0.358hr^{-1},;0.479hr^{-1},;0.195hr^{-1}$이었다 어육 중의 유산량도 전기자극시키므로서 그 값이 급격히 증가하였으며, 전기자극시간이 길어질수록 유산 축적량이 최대로 되는 시간이 짧았다. 유산 축적의 반응속도 상수는 15초 전기자극에서 $1.171hr^{-1}$, 35초 전기자극에서 $1.392hr^{-1}$, 60초 전기자극에서는 $1.635hr^{-1}$, 그리고 즉살에서는 $0.534hr^{-1}$이었다. 즉살시킨 경우의 치사직후의 파괴강도는 $1050.30pm50.23g$이었으며, 파괴강도가 최고 값에 도달하는 시간과 그 값은 각각 15초 전기자극에서 2시간과 $1264.43pm35.76g$, 35초 전기자극에서 0시간과 $1357.68pm22.50g$이었다. 한편, 60초 전기자극에서는 치사직후에 $1012.18pm57.36g$으로 즉살보다 그 값이 낮았다. 그리고, 전기자극시간이 길수록 최고 값에 도달한 후의 파괴강도의 저하속도가 빨랐다.
This study was undertaken to clarify the effects of electrical stimulation on physicochemical and rheological properties of the plaice (Paralichthys olivaceus) muscle at early period after death. The plaices were electrically stimulated in seawater bath (110V/60Hz) for 15sec., 35sec., and 60sec. and killed instantly with spiking at the head. Killed samples were stored at $5^{circ}C$, and the changes in rigor index, ATP breakdown, lactate accumulation, and breaking strength of muscle through storage were investigated. Electrical stimulation effectively accelerated rigor-mortis, lactate accumulation , and ATP breakdown. As the time of electrical stimulation was lengthened, the onset of rigor-mortis of all samples were accelerated Just after killing, and the amount of lactate was rapidly increased, But, significant differences were not observed in variance of rigor-mortis and lactate concentration. Electrically stimulated plaices showed decreasing in ATP to $4.58{mu}mole/g$ for 15sec., $4.13{mu}mole/g$ for 35sec., and $2.39{mu}mole/g$ for 60sec. samples as compared with $5.5{mu}mole/g$ of unstimulated samples. As the time of electrical stimulation was lengthened, ATP in samples were decomposed more rapidly. The rate constant of ATP breakdown were $0.244hr^{-1}$ for 15sec., $0.358hr^{-1}$ for 35sec., and $0.479hr^{-1}$ for 60sec.. The level of breaking strength in muscle of the plaice was $1050.30pm50.23g$ immediately after killing. Values of breaking strength in samples electrically stimulated for 35sec. increased rapidly just after killing among all samples. However, the breaking strength was not increased through the whole storage time in samples stimulated for 60sec.. The value and time roaching to the maximum breaking strength for each samples stimulated electrically for 15, 35 and 60 second were $1264.43pm35.76g$ and 2hr, $1357.68pm22.50g$ and Ohr, and $1012.18pm57.36g$ and Ohr. Breaking strength in all samples electrically stimulated decreased significantly (P<0.05) after reaching the maximum values.
