Assessment of potassium and sodium ion concentrations in the vitreous humour of swine isolated eyeballs after organism death.
Potassium and sodium ion concentrations were estimated by the flame photometry and potentiometry in the vitreous fluid of isolated porcine eyeballs at time of death and of eyeballs, stored at temperature of 6-8 degrees C during post-mortem intervals: 4, 28, 52, 75, 100, 124 and 148 hours. The increase of K+ concentration and decrease of Na+ concentration were proportional to the increasing post-mortem time intervals. The results of the potentiometric measurements of K+ and sodium ion concentrations were significantly lower, as compared to those after flame photometry. In all the vitreous fluid smears after 124 and 148 hours, gram (-) bacteria were found. Our results suggest that bacterial infection participates in the variability of K+ levels. The influence of bacterial infection on the margin of error for the K+ post-mortem test remains unanswered and needs further studies.
Brzeziński
P M
PM
Department of Cell Physiology, Histology and Embryology, Medical University, Lódź, Poland.
Godlewski
A
A
D000818:Animals; D010783:Photometry / Q000379:methods; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis*; D011199:Potentiometry / Q000379:methods; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis*; D013552:Swine; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000737:chemistry*
D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium