The Histological Changes and Caspase-3 Expression during Wound Healing in Contused Skeletal Muscle in Male Albino Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt.

2 Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt

3 Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt.

Abstract

Wound age estimation is one of the most critical issues for forensic pathologists.  This study aimed to assess the time dependant histological changes versus the expression of Caspase 3 histochemically during contused skeletal muscle healing to discuss the practical suitability of the latter as a parameter for wound age determination in the living instead of histological change.  Forty -six male albino rats were used in this study and divided into five groups, control group and four contused groups. At 12 hours, 3, 5 and 7 days after contusion, rats were killed and muscle samples were dissected from right hind limb of all rats.  Histological examination was made and changes of Caspase-3 activity were assessed by imunohistochemistry, the results showed normal morphology of striated muscles and no Caspase-3 was detected in skeletal muscle in the control group. Light microscopic examination of contused groups revealed that polymorphonulcear cells (PMNs) were detected at 12 hours post contusion. Degenerated skeletal muscle fibers were phagocytosed gradually at 3 days, while most of degenerated fibers were phagocytosed and disappeared at 5 days post injury. From 3 days post-injury, fibroblast cells were present in the wound zones, and multinucleated myotubes augmented remarkably at 5–7 days. The expression level of Caspase-3 in the peripheral area of contused rat skeletal muscle increased gradually and maximized on the fifth day after injury, and then decreased gradually. Caspase-3 was also detected in the regenerated skeletal muscle within 7 days after injury. In conclusion, the expression of Capase-3 in the peripheral area of contused rat skeletal muscle indicated that it may play a pivotal role in apoptosis of the wounded skeletal muscle and may be used as a marker for wound age estimation in the living human being instead of histological changes

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics