[Post mortem changes in the intestinal mucosa and lung tissue of Mus musculus, observed by scanning electron...

Post mortem ultrastructural alterations of surface epithelial tissues were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Ten male albino mice were sacrificed, and the duodenum, ileum and lung excised and fixed immediately, at 20, 40, 60 and 120 minutes post mortem. The intestinal villi and microvilli tended to flatten and to lose rigidity of cellular architecture. Alveolal epithelial cells showed the beginning of edema. Ultrastructural changes in epithelial cells were noticed as early as 20 minutes after death.