title: Effect of postmortem autolysis on Na,K-ATPase activity and antigenicity in the gerbil cochlea.
abstract: Alterations in the enzymatic activity and antigenicity of Na,K-ATPase as well as changes in cochlear morphology were assessed in gerbil inner ears harvested at selected time intervals up to 18 h postmortem. Na,K-ATPase activity was assayed biochemically in one cochlea from each animal and the other cochlea was fixed and embedded in paraffin for evaluation by light microscopy. Na,K-ATPase antigenicity was assessed by immunostaining with a broad-spectrum antiserum reactive with all known isoforms of the enzyme, and structural preservation was evaluated on adjacent sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The results showed a downward trend in enzymatic activity of Na,K-ATPase in lateral wall tissues within 1 h of death. In contrast, Na,K-ATPase immunoreactivity was fairly well preserved with postmortem fixation delays up to 12 h, despite the considerable structural degradation of cochlear tissues which began 2-3 h postmortem. It is concluded that under controlled environmental conditions, cochleas collected up to 4 h postmortem are suitable for morphological and immunohistochemical study of Na,K-ATPase by light microscopy. Cochleas collected more than 5 h postmortem were useful only for relatively gross immunohistochemical studies. It is suggested that cochleas intended for biochemical assays of Na,K-ATPase and probably most other enzymes should be collected within 1 h of death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gratton
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Schulte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D001329:Autolysis; D003051:Cochlea / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D005849:Gerbillinae; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase