Abstract
ABSTRACTIn cases of death caused by hypothermia, histological analysis can be used to determine the cause of death. Certain histological alterations of the pituitary glands in hypothermia have been reported in the literature, including haemorrhage, hyperaemia and cellular vacuolization of cells in the anterior lobe. In the present study, the validity of these morphological alterations as markers for fatal accidental hypothermia was investigated in autopsy material. A total of 34 pituitary glands in cases of verified fatal accidental hypothermia were examined histologically (haematoxylin and eosin, ferric, azan) and immunohistochemically (LCA, ACTH, C5b-9). The findings were compared with 61 cases in a control group. Hyperaemia was found in 50.0% of the study group cases and 59.0% of the control group cases. Cellular vacuolization was observed in one case (2.9%) in the study group and one case (1.6%) in the control group. Acute or recent haemorrhage in the glandular tissue was never detected. In our study, the histopathological characteristics described in the literature as pathognomonic for hypothermia could not be confirmed. Furthermore, histological differences in the pituitary glands between fatal hypothermia cases and control group cases were not observed.
Highlights
A core body temperature below 35 C is defined as hypothermia [1,2]
Certain histological alterations of the pituitary glands in hypothermia have been reported in the literature, including haemorrhage, hyperaemia and cellular vacuolization of cells in the anterior lobe
Hyperaemia was found in 50.0% of the study group cases and 59.0% of the control group cases
Summary
A core body temperature below 35 C is defined as hypothermia [1,2]. In this condition, heat loss from the body exceeds heat production by the body. The hormones produced in the anterior lobe of this endocrine gland are adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), melanocyte-stimulating hormone, prolactin and growth hormone. Together, these hormones regulate hormone release by peripheral endocrine glands, such as the adrenal gland and thyroid gland, and have a direct influence on body metabolism. Up-regulation of body metabolism is the first step in elevating the core body temperature
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