Renal tubular epithelia ultrastructure in autolysis

Abstract

Post-mortem changes in the proximal and distal tubules of rat kidneys left in situ have been studied at the light microscope and ultrastructural levels. The distal tubular nuclei showed distinct changes which were completely different from the usual nuclear appearances after death and resemble the changes seen in apoptosis. These observations suggest that the unusual changes in the autolytic distal tubular nuclei may be due to the activation of endogenous endonucleases.

Postmortem acinar autolysis in rat sublingual gland: a morphometric study

“…In parallel, the presence of granulations in the cytoplasm and nuclei alterations increased, culminating in total disorganization of the glandular structure at 24 h postmortem ( Figure 1 ). Some of these postmortem autolytic changes were similar to alterations also described as apoptosis 4 , 17 and inadequate/delayed fixation 6 , 9 , 11 . As stated by Margarone, et al 6 (1985), acini of minor salivary glands are specially susceptible to delay in fixation, therefore presenting artifacts similar to postmortem autolytic changes.…”

“…Although postmortem autolysis depends on various factors 9 , 17 , the most important factor is the postmortem period 8 , 9 , 14 . The literature reporting on the severity of autolysis during postmortem time has been investigated in functional 1 , 10 , 12 , light microscopic 3 , 4 , 11 - 14 and electron microscopic studies 1 , 3 - 5 , 8 - 10 , 12 , 13 , 15 , 17 in both humans 3 , 9 , 14 and animals 1 , 4 , 5 , 8 , 10 - 12 , 15 , 17 . Despite some quantitative studies in various organs or tissues 8 , 11 , 13 , 15 , a morphometric study more specifically related to mucous salivary glands that describes the sequence of postmortem autolytic events is lacking.…”

“…Nuclear alterations similar to apoptosis 4 , 17 or fixation artifacts 1 , such as peripheral chromatin condensation, have been described for different organs of the body, including the pancreas, kidneys and heart. Early nuclear autolytic changes in postmortem are margination and condensation of chromatin against the nuclear membrane and later changes include rupture of nuclear membrane and chromatolysis.…”

“…Postmortem autolytic changes have been described in heart 1 , 5 , 8 , 12 , 15 , temporal bones 9 , pancreas 10 , 14 , 17 , kidneys 4 , 17 , liver 17 , skeletal muscle 17 , blood vessels 11 , blood cells 13 and sweat glands 3 . Clumping 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 11 , 17 and margination of the nuclear chromatin 1 , 3 , 4 , 10 , 12 , 17 , pyknotic nuclei 1 , 3 , 4 , 10 , 11 , breakdown of nuclear membranes 4 , 10 , swelling or lysis of cells 1 , 3 , 4 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 17 and a progressive reduction in cell staining quality 6 , 13 , 14 were some of the events reported in the literature.…”

The Effects of Microwave-Irradiated Fixation for Postmortem Changes of the Kidney

“…The kidney is a typical organ that shows rapid postmortem autolysis [13,16,17], therefore rapid sampling is required to investigate renal morphology. However, in domestic animal clinical cases, many autopsies are obliged to carry out after various postmortem intervals.…”