Use of the histopathology in the differential diagnosis of drowning in fresh and salty water: an experimental model establishment in rats

Locali, Rafael Fagionato; Almeida, Marcos de; Oliveira-Júnior, Itamar Souza

doi:10.1590/s0102-86502006000400003

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 12 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…The difference in lung weight between fresh water and seawater observed in the present study suggests that fresh water may contribute to shortening the survival time during drowning [2,7]. In an experimental model of rats, Locali and collaborators [8] found a higher amount of macrophages in rat lungs after drowning induction by salty water in comparison with fresh water. Although these authors did not observe higher lung weights in salty water-drowned rats, we can hypothesise a close relationship between increased lung weight, drowning in seawater and the presence of alveolar macrophages.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 47%

Influence of postmortem findings on lung weight of drowning victims

Rubio¹,

Martín-Cazorla²,

Gaitán³

et al. 2014

RJLM

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The identification of fatal mechanisms involving drowning represents a difficult task for the forensic pathologists. Here, we analysed macromorphological, histopathological and microbiological findings that influence the lung weight of drowning. Then, we also tried to characterize drowning victims with low-weight lungs. Following exclusion criteria, of the 78 drowning cases finally selected, 18% exhibited a lung weight lower than 1000 g. Higher lung weights, mainly found in males, younger subjects and bodies found in seawater than freshwater, were correlated with external and tracheobronchial foam and alveolar macrophages. In males, pulmonary oedema was associated with higher lung weight but alveolar oedema was related to lower lung weight. Following exclusion criteria and microscopic findings (alveolar oedema and diatoms) we could identify a 3.8% of drowning cases with lungs weighting less than 1000 g. These results could help us to characterise cases of drowning as a consequence of a profound asphyxiation without liquid aspiration.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 47%

Influence of postmortem findings on lung weight of drowning victims

Rubio¹,

Martín-Cazorla²,

Gaitán³

et al. 2014

RJLM

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show abstract

“…Because drowning is due to the inhalation of either fresh or seawater, resulting in lung damage and ventilationperfusion mismatching [29], several lines of accumulating evidence have focused on lung lesions, serum electrolyte concentration [2][3][4][5][6][10][11][12][13][14], or immunohistochemical detection of intrapulmonary SP-A protein distribution, macrophage amount, and the diatom test [1,2,[15][16][17]. However, there is still no reliable technique for differentiating between FWD and SWD.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, abnormally shaped erythrocytes and alveolar epithelium, as well as villous transformation, vacuole formation, and discontinuity of alveolar lining cells are found in SWD but not in FWD [6][7][8][9]. In addition, several studies have reported chemical analyses of serum electrolyte levels [10][11][12][13][14], atrial natriuretic peptide, iron, strontium, magnesium, or immunohistochemical detection of intrapulmonary macrophages, surfactant-associated protein A (SP-A) distribution, aquaporin-5 expression [15][16][17], or the microbiological test of bacterial markers, fecal coliforms, and fecal streptococci [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic application of intrarenal aquaporin-2 expression for differential diagnosis between freshwater and saltwater drowning

Ishida

Kimura

et al. 2009

Int J Legal Med

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Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of homologous water channel proteins. In this study, the expressions of AQP1, 2, and 4 were immunohistochemically examined in kidney samples to evaluate their forensic applicability to differentiate between freshwater drowning (FWD) and saltwater drowning (SWD). Kidney samples were obtained from 51 drowning cases (23 FWD and 28 SWD) and 19 non-drowning cases. AQP1 was expressed in the proximal tubules and glomeruli, and AQP4 was localized in the collecting ducts. However, there were no significant differences in AQP1 and AQP4 expressions among FWD, SWD, and control groups. Immunohistochemically, AQP2 was predominantly expressed in the apical plasma membrane of the collecting duct principal cells in all kidney samples of FWD and SWD. Morphometrically, AQP2 expression at the apical plasma membrane of collecting ducts was significantly enhanced in SWD group, compared with FWD and control groups. On the other hand, AQP-2 expression was significantly lower in FWD group than in control group. Moreover, in drowning cases, there was no correlation between post-submersion intervals and AQP expression. From a forensic aspect, immunohistochemical detection of AQP2 in the kidney can be considered a valuable marker to differentiate between FWD and SWD.

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“…An experimental drowning model was established as described previously [22]. After mice were anesthetized with an intraperitoneal injection of pentobarbital (50 μg/g body weight), a cervical midline incision was made and the trachea was exposed.…”

Section: Experimental Drowning Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential diagnosis between freshwater drowning and saltwater drowning based on intrapulmonary aquaporin-5 expression

et al. 2008

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The intrapulmonary expression of aquaporin-5 (AQP5) was examined in an experimental drowning model and forensic autopsy cases to discuss the possibility for differentiation between freshwater drowning (FWD) and saltwater drowning (SWD). In animal experiments, mice were classified into four groups: (group I: FWD; group II: SWD; group III: postmortem immersion (PI); and group IV: cervical dislocation as controls. In group I, intrapulmonary AQP5 expression was significantly suppressed at both gene and protein levels, compared with the other three groups, and there was no significant difference in AQP5 expression among groups II to IV. In the next series, we examined AQP5 gene expression in human lung samples obtained from forensic autopsies at less than 48 h postmortem (nine FWD cases, five SWD cases, and 14 other cases). Although AQP5 mRNA could be detected in all lung samples under the employed experimental conditions, the intrapulmonary gene expression of AQP5 in FWD was significantly attenuated compared with the other groups. These observations imply that AQP5 expression in type I alveolar epithelial cells was suppressed by hypotonic water to prevent hemodilution from the physiological aspect. Moreover, the analysis of intrapulmonary AQP5 expression would be forensically useful for differentiation between FWD and SWD, or between FWD and PI.

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Use of the histopathology in the differential diagnosis of drowning in fresh and salty water: an experimental model establishment in rats

Abstract: The developed diagnostic method was efficient in rats. The results, if expanded, will be able to assist the Forensic Pathology for technique of low cost and high trustworthiness.

Cited by 11 publications

References 12 publications

Influence of postmortem findings on lung weight of drowning victims

Influence of postmortem findings on lung weight of drowning victims

Forensic application of intrarenal aquaporin-2 expression for differential diagnosis between freshwater and saltwater drowning

Differential diagnosis between freshwater drowning and saltwater drowning based on intrapulmonary aquaporin-5 expression

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