RESUMO
This study investigated the association between serum aspartate aminotransferase activity and apoptotic potentials assessed by the levels of serum parameters, including Ca2+ and serotonin, Ca2+ channel genes, and caspase genes, at the early postmortem. Additionally, the effect of serum aspartate aminotransferase activity on meat and sensory quality characteristics of chicken pectoralis major muscle was investigated to determine the cause of meat quality deterioration. Among the groups categorized by serum aspartate aminotransferase activity, the high group showed a higher serotonin level and a lower Ca2+ level than the low and medium groups (P < 0.05). The low group had higher apoptotic potentials as exhibited higher levels of ryanodine receptor, sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase, and caspases than the high group (P < 0.05). The low and medium groups showed lower pH24 h and paler surface color than the high group (P < 0.05), indicating pale, soft, and exudative-like meat. Sensory juiciness and overall acceptability were higher in the high group than in the low group (P < 0.05). Overall, serum aspartate aminotransferase activity may be a useful indicator for explaining the meat quality variation, as this molecule can prevent deterioration of chicken meat quality.