Freezing influence on the histological structure of Mediterranean mussel (<i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>)

Abstract

&lt;abstract&gt; &lt;p&gt;The objective of this study was to establish the morphological changes in the structure of Mediterranean mussel (&lt;italic&gt;Mytilus galloprovincialis&lt;/italic&gt;) after frozen storage. Two hundred Mediterranean mussels (&lt;italic&gt;M. galloprovincialis&lt;/italic&gt;) were collected from the Black Sea coastal waters. Forty mussels were subjected to histological analysis in fresh state. The remaining 160 mussels were divided into 4 groups and slowly frozen in a conventional freezer at −18 ℃ and subsequently stored at the same temperature for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, respectively. The histological assessment of posterior adductor muscle and foot found a change in their morphological profile and overall structure. The fewest changes in the histostructure were recorded after a 3-month period and the most after a 12-month period of storage in frozen state. The results from that study can be used as an unambiguous marker in selecting optimum conditions for storage of mussels in frozen state.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/abstract&gt;