DEFINING THE MACROSCOPIC
AND MICROSCOPIC FINDINGS OF EXPERIMENTAL FOCAL BRAIN ISCHEMIA IN RATS FROM A FORENSIC SCIENTIST’S POINT OF VIEW
Tatlisumak E ,
Inan S , Asirdizer M , Apaydin N,
Hayretdag C, Kose
C, Tekdemir I.
The American Journal Forensic Medicine and Pathology,
2009; 30(1): 26-31.
ABSTRACT
Approximately
10 % of all deaths occur as a result of stroke in the world. Determination of the time schedule of the pathologic events in
a stroke patient is invaluable for a forensic specialist. The aim of this study was to define the schedule of the macroscopic
and microscopic changes occurred in a rat model of permanent focal ischemia for providing useful clues for the evaluation
of stroke patients. Male Wistar rats weighing 250- 350 g were used in this study. Permanent focal brain ischemia was applied
by the suture occlusion method. The animals were divided into 7 experimental groups (n= 6) with time schedules including 1.5,
3, 6, 12, 24 and 72 hours and the sham. Brains were harvested at the end of the determined time schedule. Lesions in the frontoparietal
cortex were evaluated macroscopically first and later hematoxylin eosin stained sections from the infarct core were investigated
microscopically. Macroscopically, enlargement of the ipsilateral hemisphere was mild at 6 hour, apparent at 12 and 24 hours
and mild again at 72 hours. Microscopically, ischemic changes were apparent even at 1.5 hour. Red neurons and infiltration
of the parenchyma with neutrophil leukocytes were observed at 12 hours. Pannecrosis and massive leukocyte infiltration were
observed at 72 hours. Macroscopic and microscopic findings obtained from a rat model may provide clues for determination of
the time- dependent changes due to brain ischemia in human subjects. Finally, the benefits of determination of time course
of pathological changes in the brain for forensic scientists were discussed.
Keywords: Brain, Rat, Focal ischemia, Stroke, Forensic science
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