MORPHOLOGY OF SWEAT GLANDS IN DETERMINING TIME OF DEATH

Citation
M. Cingolani et al., MORPHOLOGY OF SWEAT GLANDS IN DETERMINING TIME OF DEATH, International journal of legal medicine, 107(3), 1994, pp. 132-140
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Pathology
ISSN journal
09379827
Volume
107
Issue
3
Year of publication
1994
Pages
132 - 140
Database
ISI
SICI code
0937-9827(1994)107:3<132:MOSGID>2.0.ZU;2-Q
Abstract
This study demonstrates post-mortem autolytic alterations in the skin at cellular and subcellular levels and identifies parameters which may assist in determining the time of death in the first few hours post-m ortem. Serial skin samples from the ventral surface of the arm were ta ken at intervals of 3, 6, 9 and 12 h after death in 29 subjects of var ious ages, with no signs of skin disease; causes of death were various . Three types of tests were performed: cytochemical (hematoxylin-eosin and alcian-PAS), immunohistochemical (S-100, CEA, Cytokeratin, ASM) a nd ultrastructural (electron microscopy). Electron miscroscopy proved useful for identifying transformations which were found to be specific for each chronological step considered: reduction of intracellular gl ycogen in clear cells and reduction of secretory granules in dark cell s are typical signs of the first stage (3 h) after death; mitochondria l dilatation and rarefaction of cristae in clear and dark cells are ty pical of the second stage (6 h); rarefaction of microvilli in dark and clear cells is a sign of the last stage (12 h). Cytochemistry and imm unohistochemistry supply useful information - not for all the chronolo gical stage considered here, but for individual phases (3 h for hemato xylin-eosin and 6 h for alcian-PAS). However, it is particularly impor tant to use the results from all such techniques simultaneously, so th at the question of the exact time of death within the first 12 h post- mortem may be more accurately answered.