title: Time-dependent RNA synthesis in different skin layers after wounding. Experimental investigations in vital and postmortem biopsies.
abstract: Incision wounds were made on the outer ear of rats and two biopsies were taken for examination after different survival times. In each case a biopsy was made of vital tissue and a second of postmortem tissue after refrigeration for 24 h. The biopsies were exposed to a solution containing the RNA precursor 3H-cytidine for 1 h, washed and fixed in formalin. Sections 5 microns thick were then autoradiographically prepared and automatically evaluated using Quantimet 920. The intravital specimens showed a significant increase in 3H-cytidine incorporation in the basal cell layer after survival times of 10-24 h. No increase was seen in the stratum corneum, corium or cartilage tissue. The investigated distance from the wound margin did not have any significant bearing on the results. The 3H-cytidine incorporation rate in postmortem tissue was practically identical with that of vital tissue, but no increase was observed in the rate of RNA synthesis in the basal cells as a function of the age of the wound. It may therefore be assumed that this method provides no additional information as to the age of wounds in postmortem examination.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Medizinische Universität zu Lübeck, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oehmichen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lagodka
mesh_terms: D000546:Amanitins / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003562:Cytidine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000546:Amanitins; D003562:Cytidine; D012313:RNA