Microstructural and physicochemical analysis of collagen in intramuscular pin bones of Bocachico fish (Prochilodus sp.).

Background: the presence of intramuscular pin bones hinders the production and commercialization offish fillet products; however, application of physical processes, such as thermal treatments, offers alternativesfor the degradation of said bones. Objective: the present study aimed to conduct a microstructural andphysicochemical analysis of Bocachico intramuscular pin bones subjected to a thermal treatment. Methods: collagen extracted from intramuscular pin bones of Bocachico fillets was analyzed using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and viscosity. Pin bones were subjected to 1.5, 2, and 3 minutes heating time and analyzed using electron microscopy and cutting force. Results: intramuscular pin bones contain type I collagen. Threeminute thermal treatment degraded collagen components present in the internal pin bone structure, coinciding with the lowest values of the cutting force test. Conclusions: according to our results, collagen degradation initiates in the internal structure of intramuscular pin bones and moves towards the external layer which does not show the effects of thermal treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]