Usability of Histological Assessment of Cerebellar Granule Cell Layer Regardless of Postmortem Interval

Satomu Morita

doi:10.4172/2157-7145.1000180

Abstract

We often encounter many decomposed cases in the forensic science fields. Damage to organs by bacteria complicates our diagnosis, examination and study. The central nerve system is one of the most hardly decomposed organs. The cerebellar granule cell layer (GCL) is useful for some investigation. We histologically evaluated cerebellar GCL of decomposed and fresh cases using Photoshop™ application. No statistical difference was found between two groups. In addition, we grouped by agonal situation and histologically evaluated cerebellar GCL. We could only show the statistical difference between carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and house fire because of shortage number of some groups, but the comparison of the box plots suggested some relations between GCL and agonal situation. We suggest conservation of histological findings of cerebellar GCL regardless of postmortem interval and usability for detecting agonal situation.

Highlights

In the forensic science fields, we encounter many decomposed cases
We evaluated granule cell layer (GCL) in some cases, which were dead in different agonal situation, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, house fire and suicide by fire
Some mechanisms of apoptosis were found in GCL [4]

Summary

Introduction

In the forensic science fields, we encounter many decomposed cases. Damage to organs by bacteria complicates diagnosis, examination and study. Decomposition by bacteria often begins colon, lung and mucous membrane of face that have bacterial flora, widely spread to whole body in few days. The almost cardinal organs exist in cavity of chest and abdomen that are vulnerable to bacterial invasion. Central nerve system (CNS) is immersed in cerebrospinal fluid that is clearly aseptic except for meningitis cases, and there is no connection to chest and abdominal cavity. According to the report by Stan et al [1] postmortem interval (PMI) range of 6 to 40 hours does not correlate with the RNA quality in brain [1]. We can say that CNS is one of the most hardly decomposed organs

Methods

Results

Conclusion