[Ultrastructural changes in the skin in fatal electrical trauma]

Area of Science:

• Forensic pathology
• Electrophysiology
• Toxicology

Context:

• Electrical injuries are a significant cause of trauma.
• Differentiating electrical injuries from mechanical or thermal trauma is crucial for forensic investigations.
• Understanding the specific pathological changes induced by electrical current is essential.

Purpose:

• To characterize the histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural alterations in guinea-pigs subjected to alternating current (AC) injury.
• To establish a complex of diagnostic markers specific to electrical injuries.
• To investigate the relationship between applied voltage and the resulting morphological damage.

Summary:

• Twenty guinea-pigs were exposed to 380 V and 220 V AC.
• Histological, histochemical, and electron microscopy revealed distinct destructive alterations.
• A voltage-dependent relationship was observed between the applied current and the severity of morphological changes.
• A unique set of electrical markers was identified.

Impact:

• The identified complex of alterations can serve as a diagnostic tool for distinguishing electrical injuries.
• This research contributes to the forensic science field by providing objective criteria for injury analysis.
• Findings may improve the accuracy of post-mortem examinations involving electrical trauma.