Schäfer A T, Kaufmann J D
Institute of Forensic Medicine, RWTH Aachen, Germany.
Forensic Sci Int. 1999 Jun 28;102(2-3):149-58. doi: 10.1016/s0379-0738(99)00043-2.
In order to evaluate histological features of freezing damages to human tissue after death, we froze samples of liver and heart tissue to temperatures of -12 degrees C, -28 degrees C and -80 degrees C, and stored them for 24 and 72 h, respectively, at those temperatures. After thawing and routine preparation for histology, the samples were evaluated both by microscope and with an electronic image analyzer. In all cases, we found extended extracellular spaces and shrunken cells resulting from the freeze-thaw cycle. These features were more pronounced in tissues stored for longer durations. Such findings seem to be typical of tissue that has been frozen prior to examination. Two cases of dead bodies found outdoors at subzero temperatures demonstrate that formerly frozen and unfrozen tissues can be distinguished histologically. The findings are examined in relation to the fundamental laws of cryobiology.
为了评估死后人体组织冷冻损伤的组织学特征，我们将肝脏和心脏组织样本分别冷冻至-12℃、-28℃和-80℃，并在这些温度下分别保存24小时和72小时。解冻并进行常规组织学制备后，通过显微镜和电子图像分析仪对样本进行评估。在所有情况下，我们都发现了冻融循环导致的细胞外间隙扩大和细胞萎缩。这些特征在保存时间较长的组织中更为明显。这些发现似乎是检查前已冷冻组织的典型特征。两例在户外零下温度下发现的尸体表明，先前冷冻和未冷冻的组织可以通过组织学进行区分。结合低温生物学的基本规律对这些发现进行了研究。
