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Published on: December 1, 2023
Elastic fiber degradation as a possible indicator for PMI estimation on mummified and corified skin: a pilot study
Stefano Tambuzzi1, Guendalina Gentile2, Salvatore Andreola1
1Laboratorio Di Istopatologia Forense e Microbiologia Medico Legale - Sezione Di Medicina Legale E Delle Assicurazioni - Dipartimento Di Scienze Biomediche Per La Salute, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milan, Italy.
Abstract:
Mummified and corified bodies are particularly complex scenarios to investigate, starting from identifying the post-mortem interval (PMI), even more so in indoor environments. In these bodies, the skin has the peculiar feature to resist for a long time. Among its components, there are elastic fibers, which are characterized by intrinsic resistance to post-mortem degenerative phenomena. Starting from these considerations, we investigated microscopically the persistence, detectability, and changes of elastic fibers in the skin of mummified and corified bodies with different known PMI. The aim was to evaluate whether they could provide an additional tool to aid in PMI estimation in these cases. Therefore, we collected skin samples from mummified or corified bodies found in a domestic environment with different known PMI, as well as from corified bodies that had been exhumed after 11 years of burial. Histochemical staining specific for elastic fibers, namely, Weigert's resorcin fuchsin, showed their prolonged persistence and a progressive and different degradation between mummified and corified skin as a function of PMI. Moreover, on the whole, we observed greater preservation of elastic fibers in mummified skin than in corified one at the same PMI. Therefore, histological analysis of elastic fibers in mummified and corified skin may help to provide valuable aid in estimating PMI, especially in those particular cases where more reliable alternatives are lacking.
Insights
Elastic fibers in skin persist long after death, aiding in estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI). Microscopic analysis reveals distinct degradation patterns in mummified and corified bodies, offering a new forensic tool.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Science
- Histology
- Taphonomy
Background:
- Estimating post-mortem interval (PMI) is challenging for mummified and corified bodies, especially in indoor settings.
- Skin's elastic fibers exhibit remarkable resistance to post-mortem degradation.
- These fibers offer potential for developing new PMI estimation methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the persistence, detectability, and changes in skin elastic fibers.
- To evaluate the utility of elastic fibers as an additional tool for PMI estimation in mummified and corified remains.
- To compare elastic fiber degradation in mummified versus corified skin over time.
Main Methods:
- Microscopic examination of skin samples from mummified and corified bodies with known PMI.
- Histochemical staining using Weigert's resorcin fuchsin, specific for elastic fibers.
- Analysis of samples from indoor environments and exhumed bodies (11 years post-burial).
Main Results:
- Elastic fibers demonstrated prolonged persistence in both mummified and corified skin.
- Progressive and distinct degradation patterns of elastic fibers were observed, correlating with PMI.
- Mummified skin generally showed better elastic fiber preservation compared to corified skin at similar PMIs.
Conclusions:
- Histological analysis of elastic fibers can significantly aid in estimating PMI for mummified and corified bodies.
- This method provides a valuable alternative when other PMI estimation techniques are unreliable.
- Elastic fiber integrity offers a quantifiable marker for post-mortem changes in challenging decomposition scenarios.
