Neuronal apoptosis following human brain injury.
Neuronal apoptosis has been investigated in paraffin-embedded brain tissue from 103 individuals who had sustained blunt head injury by use of the in situ nick translation (ISNT) technique. In order to provide reliable data for a forensic wound age estimation, a quantitative morphometric analysis was performed. Apoptotic neuronal cells could be detected in a cortical contusion with a wound age of 45 min at the earliest and in the majority of the cases with postinfliction intervals up to 2 weeks, numerous ISNT-positive cells were found adjacent to the traumatically injured area. The presented data indicate that neuronal apoptosis peaks at about 1 day and persists for at least 22 weeks after blunt head injury. The time-dependent occurrence of apoptotic cells can contribute to a forensic timing of cortical contusions and complements other immunohistochemical parameters, especially in the early postinfliction interval.
Hausmann
R
R
Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Erlangen, Universitätsstrasse 22, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. roland.hausmann@recht.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Biermann
T
T
Wiest
I
I
Tübel
J
J
Betz
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors