Evaluation of Vitality in the Experimental Hanging Model of Rats by Using Immunohistochemical IL-1β Antibody Staining

Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2015 Dec;36(4):317-22. doi: 10.1097/PAF.0000000000000199.

Abstract

Introduction: Hanging is the most common suicide method in the world, and the discrimination of antemortem-postmortem hanging must be done at autopsy. The aim of this experimental study was to examine the immunohistochemical expression of IL-1β antibody at the hanging mark skin samples of rats to discriminate antemortem and postmortem hangings.

Materials and methods: A total of 20 Wistar albino rats were used for this study. The groups were as follows: A-1, antemortem control group; A-2, antemortem second-hour hanging mark skin samples; A-3, antemortem 24th-hour hanging mark skin samples; A-4, antemortem 72nd-hour hanging mark skin samples; B-1, postmortem control group; and B-2, postmortem second-hour hanging mark skin samples. Interleukin-1β immunostaining was performed to all tissue samples.

Results: For epidermal cells, group A-1 samples did not show IL-1β immunostaining, group A-2 samples were severely immunostained, and groups A-3 and A-4 samples' staining were slightly decreased. There was no IL-1β antibody staining in groups B-1 and B-2 samples. For adnexal cells, groups A-1 and B-1 samples did not show IL-1β immunostaining, staining of group A-2 samples was mild to severe, and groups A-3 and A-4 samples' staining were slightly decreased. Half of the group B-2 samples did not show IL-1β immunostaining. For subepidermal cells, most of the samples of groups A-1 and B-1 showed slight immunostaining, groups A-2 and B-2 samples' staining were mild to severe, and there were slight immunostaining in groups A-3 and A-4 samples. The majority of vascular structure cells did not show IL-1β immunostaining.

Conclusion: Interleukin-1β immunostaining of epidermal cells can discriminate antemortem-postmortem hangings, but vascular structure cells and subepidermal cells cannot discriminate vital hangings.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / metabolism
  • Asphyxia / pathology*
  • Forensic Pathology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interleukin-1beta / immunology*
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism*
  • Microscopy
  • Models, Animal
  • Neck Injuries / pathology*
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Skin / cytology
  • Skin / metabolism*
  • Skin / pathology
  • Staining and Labeling

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Interleukin-1beta