Morphological markers of pathophysiological changes in the neuronal processes in the acute post-traumatic period of diffuse axonal injury

Koludarova E.M.; Tuchik E.S.; Zorikov O.V.

doi:https://doi.org/10.17116/sudmed20226506147

Koludarova E.M.

Russian Centre of Forensic Medical Expertise

ORCID: 0000-0003-1989-7789

Tuchik E.S.

Russian Centre of Forensic Medical Expertise;
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University

ORCID: 0000-0003-4330-2327

Zorikov O.V.

Russian Centre of Forensic Medical Expertise

ORCID: 0000-0002-1396-7881

Morphological markers of pathophysiological changes in the neuronal processes in the acute post-traumatic period of diffuse axonal injury

Authors:

Koludarova E.M., Tuchik E.S., Zorikov O.V.

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Journal: Forensic Medical Expertise. 2022;65(6): 47‑50

DOI: 10.17116/sudmed20226506147

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To cite this article:

Koludarova EM, Tuchik ES, Zorikov OV. Morphological markers of pathophysiological changes in the neuronal processes in the acute post-traumatic period of diffuse axonal injury. Forensic Medical Expertise. 2022;65(6):47‑50. (In Russ.)
https://doi.org/10.17116/sudmed20226506147

Подписка 2026 Судебно-медицинская экспертиза (Forensic Medical Expertise)

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Abstract:

The purpose of the study was to establish morphological markers of pathophysiological changes in the neuronal processes of in the acute (up to 36 hours) post-traumatic period of diffuse axonal injury (DAI) for the purposes of expert practice. Histological examination of the body of corpus callosum of the corpses of 66 persons dead from DAI and of 25 persons dead from various non-violent and violent causes, excluding head trauma, was performed (control group). Morphological markers of specific pathophysiological changes in the neuronal process were established by light microscopy with the use of immunohistochemical examination in acute period DAI. Uneven contours of the processes suggested displacement of cytoskeletal elements, areas of vacuolization of the cytoplasm of the processes suggested violation of intracellular transport caused by a change of permeability with preserved integrity of the process shell without mechanical separation of the process, uneven thickness (3.9 ± 1.6 μm) of the processes, varicose and cone-shaped thickening of them was a manifestation of focal edema of the neuronal process and compression of the cytoskeleton as a result of ion-enzymatic disorders, uneven coloration, areas of fragmentary compaction of neurofilaments indicated the zones of deformation and compression of the cytoskeleton, zones of granular-lumpy decay and fibrillolysis of neurofilaments indicated destruction of the cytoskeleton. Changes in the neuronal processes are a manifestation of a polyethological general pathological process and are not a differential diagnostic criterion of DAI.

Keywords:

traumatic brain injury

DAI of acute period

neuronal processes

morphological markers of DAI

Authors:

Koludarova E.M.

Russian Centre of Forensic Medical Expertise

ORCID: 0000-0003-1989-7789

Tuchik E.S.

Russian Centre of Forensic Medical Expertise;
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University

ORCID: 0000-0003-4330-2327

Zorikov O.V.

Russian Centre of Forensic Medical Expertise

ORCID: 0000-0002-1396-7881

Received:

11.05.2022

Accepted:

08.06.2022

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