Preliminary study on using changes in astrocytes and neurons in the brain-stem of the rat after stab wounds for determining the time of injury

Abstract

The changes in astrocytes and neurons in the brain-stem of the rat after stab wounds were studied immunohistochemically. Anti-GFAP and anti-albumin antibodies were used to detect the changes of astrocytes and neurons, respectively. The results showed that in normal control group, the numbers of GFAP-positive cells differed in different areas of brain-stem, but remained similar in the same area of different rats. No albumin-positive cells could be found. The number of GFAP-positive cells in antemortem injury groups increased significantly followed by a decrease, and then a further increase. Albumin-positive cells including neurons and glial cells were found after injury in the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata. In the postmortem injury groups, there were no significant changes in either anti-GFAP or anti-albumin immunoreactivities in any area of brain-stem compared to the control group. These results indicated that the changes in the number of GFAP-positive cells could be used to estimate the time of injury and to diagnose early brain-stem injury. The antemortem and postmortem injuries can also be differentiated by the presence of albumin-positive cells. The authors suggest that the timing and early diagnosis of injury in the brain-stem should be carried out on the basis of comprehensive analyses of changes in both neurons and glial cells.