[Immunohistochemical assessment of survival from open skin wounds using paraffin sections]

Investigation of vitality was done in paraffin-embedded tissue sections of open skin wounds by demonstration of a neutrophilic reaction marking the cells by naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase, by demonstration of enzyme activity by application of lysozyme antibodies and by demonstration of concentration of proteinase inhibitors by application of inhibitor antibodies using the indirect immunohistochemical peroxidase method. Survival time of the wounds could be determined in 10 cases (15-165 mins) and was unknown in 9 other cases of sudden death due to injury of the major vessels or heart. Postmortally inflicted injuries and cases of sudden death due to massive blunt trauma served as controls. In vital injuries, accumulation of proteinase inhibitors, particularly alpha-1-antichymotrypsin and alpha-2-macroglobulin, were demonstrable in the corium parallel to the wound surface. Protein accumulation was observed only sporadically in cases of sudden death and never in cases with postmortally inflicted wounds. Granulocytes and lysozyme were first observed in the corium after a survival time of more than 60 minutes.