Rapid post-mortem decomposition of the somatostatin cells in human brain. An immunohistochemical examination

The stability of the somatostatin cells in post-mortem brains obtained 6, 8, 12, 18, 24 and 48 hours after death was examined by use of immunohistochemical technique and compared to the findings in brain material obtained during neurosurgical operations. A considerable decomposition of the somatostatin cells and their processes begins soon after death. The cell bodies dissolve and the cell processes are decomposed into small fragments. The predominant decomposition takes place within the first 6 hours after death as only insignificant further decomposition of the cells and their processes are observed in the preparations obtained 6 hours after death and later. The results demonstrate that it is necessary to obtain the brain material with the shortest possible delay after death, when it is used for post-mortem examinations of the somatostatin cell system in the human brain.