THE EFFECT OF CONDITIONS UPON THE LATENT PERIOD AND RATE OF ASEPTIC POST MORTEM AUTOLYSIS DURING THE FIRST TEN HOURS

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Cell Biology
• Physiology

Background:

• Autolysis, or tissue self-digestion, is a complex process.
• Understanding the factors influencing autolysis is crucial for various biological and medical fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the factors influencing the latent period and rate of general autolysis.
• To determine the effects of temperature, salt concentration, pH, and specific chemical agents on autolytic processes.

Main Methods:

• Organ tissues were subjected to varying conditions, including cooling, altered saline concentrations, and addition of chemicals.
• Autolytic rates were assessed by monitoring changes in freezing-point depression, non-coagulable nitrogen, and reaction.
• The influence of antiseptics and specific hydrolyzable compounds was examined.

Main Results:

• A latent period before autolysis onset was observed, influenced by cooling, salt concentration, presence of blood, and absence of fats/glycogen.
• Antiseptics like chloroform and toluol decreased autolysis rates, while ordinary light had no effect.
• Ethyl butyrate hydrolysis accelerated autolysis due to butyric acid formation; however, phosphate buffer acidity did not yield similar results.
• Autolytic factors (proteolytic, amylolytic, lipolytic) interact, with acid products from amylolysis and lipolysis enhancing nitrogenous autolysis.

Conclusions:

• Autolysis onset and rate are modulated by a combination of intrinsic tissue conditions and external factors.
• Acidity generated during amylolysis and lipolysis plays a significant role in accelerating proteolytic activity.
• The interplay between different enzymatic activities dictates the overall autolytic process.