Improved staining method for determining the extent of thermal damage to cells.
OBJECTIVE
Enzyme histochemical stains of frozen sections have been used by investigators to assess thermal damage. The assessment of thermal damage to cells in lipid-rich tissues such as subcutaneous tissue and sebaceous glands can be difficult due to the quality of frozen sections of such tissues. The purpose of this study is to develop an improved method for this type of evaluation.


METHODS
Thick frozen sections of thermally damaged pig and human skin were stained for lactate dehydrogenase. The sections were fixed in formalin and processed for paraffin-embedded sections.


RESULTS
The sections showed well-defined localization of the enzymatic deposits as well as preservation of the tissue architecture.


CONCLUSIONS
The paraffin-embedded lactate dehydrogenase stained sections provide improved evaluation of thermally damaged tissues, particularly the lipid rich tissues.
Sherwood
Margaret E
ME
Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
Flotte
Thomas J
TJ
D000818:Animals; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine
D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase