Survival of frog striated muscle after pressure cooling

Electronmicroscopical studies and functional tests (isometric contractibility) were performed in frog biceps muscle after treatment with elevated hydrostatic pressure at room temperature and at various temperatures below 0 degrees C. 700 bar pressure for 15 min. at room temperature caused rigor and damage to the sarcomers and mitochondria. 500 bar pressure for 15 min. and cooling to -17 degrees C resulted in solid freezing connected with severe damage to the muscular tissue and loss of any function. 518 bar pressure and cooling to -7 degrees C allowed good preservation of the ultrastructure and survival of the muscular tissue.