title: Viability of human articular chondrocytes harvested postmortem: changes with time and temperature of in vitro culture conditions.
abstract: Different studies of long-term chondrocytes viability have shown a gradual reduction as a function of time and ambient temperature. The aim of our in vitro study was to establish chondrocyte postmortem viability curves for 4°C, 11°C, 23°C, 35°C during 63 days after the donors' death. Osteochondral cylinders were procured from the knees of 16 male donors (20-47 years), stored in preservation media that was not changed, and analyzed in 3-day intervals using a confocal laser scanning microscope. A significant influence of time on viability was found from Day 9 (p = 0.0029) and onwards (p < 0.0001). The lowest overall chondrocyte viability was at 35°C, followed by 4°C (p < 0.0001). The conditions used in this in vitro analysis suggest that similar viabilities may occur while in situ in the decedent. Further studies of chondrocyte viability from individuals with known postmortem intervals may show premise to help evaluate time since death in the late postmortem interval.
authors: Institute of Forensic Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Korytkova 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Armin
authors: A
authors: Alibegović
authors: Jože
authors: J
authors: Balažic
authors: Danijel
authors: D
authors: Petrovič
authors: Gorazd
authors: G
authors: Hribar
authors: Rok
authors: R
authors: Blagus
authors: Matej
authors: M
authors: Drobnič
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ambient temperature; articular cartilage; chondrocyte viability; confocal laser scanning microscope; forensic pathology; forensic science; knee; time since death