Course of glial immunoreactivity for vimentin, tenascin and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin after traumatic injury to human brain

In a total of 104 individuals who had sustained traumatic brain injury (TBI ), the course of glial immunoreactivity was investigated at the injured cor tical area during the first 30 weeks after the trauma, in order to provide data for a forensic wound age estimation. Glial cells were stained with ant ibodies against the intermediate filament protein vimentin, the extracellul ar matrix protein tenascin and the serine protease inhibitor (alpha1-antich ymotrypsin (alpha1-ACT). Injury-induced glial staining reactions could be o bserved, at the earliest, after a post-infliction interval of 3.1 h for alp ha1-ACT, 22 It for vimentin and 7 days for tenascin.