Skip to main content
Top
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine 1/2004

01-02-2004 | Original Article

Neuronal apoptosis following human brain injury

Authors: R. Hausmann, T. Biermann, I. Wiest, J. Tübel, P. Betz

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 1/2004

Login to get access

Abstract

Neuronal apoptosis has been investigated in paraffin-embedded brain tissue from 103 individuals who had sustained blunt head injury by use of the in situ nick translation (ISNT) technique. In order to provide reliable data for a forensic wound age estimation, a quantitative morphometric analysis was performed. Apoptotic neuronal cells could be detected in a cortical contusion with a wound age of 45 min at the earliest and in the majority of the cases with postinfliction intervals up to 2 weeks, numerous ISNT-positive cells were found adjacent to the traumatically injured area. The presented data indicate that neuronal apoptosis peaks at about 1 day and persists for at least 22 weeks after blunt head injury. The time-dependent occurrence of apoptotic cells can contribute to a forensic timing of cortical contusions and complements other immunohistochemical parameters, especially in the early postinfliction interval.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Arends MJ, Morris RG, Wyllie AH (1990) Apoptosis, the role of endonuclease. Am J Pathol 136:593PubMed Arends MJ, Morris RG, Wyllie AH (1990) Apoptosis, the role of endonuclease. Am J Pathol 136:593PubMed
2.
go back to reference Beer R, Franz G, Krajewski S et al. (2001) Temporal and spatial profile of caspase 8 expression and proteolysis after experimental traumatic brain injury. J Neurochem 78:862–873CrossRefPubMed Beer R, Franz G, Krajewski S et al. (2001) Temporal and spatial profile of caspase 8 expression and proteolysis after experimental traumatic brain injury. J Neurochem 78:862–873CrossRefPubMed
3.
go back to reference Burek MJ, Oppenheim RW (1996) Programmed cell death in the developing nervous system. Brain Pathol 6:427PubMed Burek MJ, Oppenheim RW (1996) Programmed cell death in the developing nervous system. Brain Pathol 6:427PubMed
4.
go back to reference Charriaut-Marlangue C, Remolleau S, Aggoun-Zouaoui D, Ben-Ari Y (1998) Apoptosis and programmed cell death: a role in cerebral ischemia. Biomed Pharmacother 52:264–269CrossRefPubMed Charriaut-Marlangue C, Remolleau S, Aggoun-Zouaoui D, Ben-Ari Y (1998) Apoptosis and programmed cell death: a role in cerebral ischemia. Biomed Pharmacother 52:264–269CrossRefPubMed
5.
go back to reference Colicos MA, Dash PK (1996) Apoptotic morphology of dentate gyrus granule cells following experimental cortical impact injury in rats: possible role in spatial memory deficits. Brain Res 739:120–131CrossRefPubMed Colicos MA, Dash PK (1996) Apoptotic morphology of dentate gyrus granule cells following experimental cortical impact injury in rats: possible role in spatial memory deficits. Brain Res 739:120–131CrossRefPubMed
6.
go back to reference Colicos MA, Dash PK, Dixon CE (1996) Delayed, selective neuronal death following experimental cortical impact injury in rats: possible role in memory deficits. Brain Res 739:111–119PubMed Colicos MA, Dash PK, Dixon CE (1996) Delayed, selective neuronal death following experimental cortical impact injury in rats: possible role in memory deficits. Brain Res 739:111–119PubMed
7.
go back to reference Eldadah BA, Faden AI (2000) Caspase pathways, neuronal apoptosis, and CNS injury. J Neurotrauma 10:811–829 Eldadah BA, Faden AI (2000) Caspase pathways, neuronal apoptosis, and CNS injury. J Neurotrauma 10:811–829
8.
go back to reference Gavrieli Y, Sherman Y, Ben-Sasson SA (1992) Identification of programmed cell death in situ via specific labelling of nuclear DNA fragmentation. J Cell Biol 119:493PubMed Gavrieli Y, Sherman Y, Ben-Sasson SA (1992) Identification of programmed cell death in situ via specific labelling of nuclear DNA fragmentation. J Cell Biol 119:493PubMed
9.
go back to reference Gelbard HA (1999) Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection: chronic inflammation and programmed cell death in the central nervous system. In: Hannun YA, Boustany RM (eds) Apoptosis in neurobiology. CRC press, New York, Washington DC, pp 61–72 Gelbard HA (1999) Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection: chronic inflammation and programmed cell death in the central nervous system. In: Hannun YA, Boustany RM (eds) Apoptosis in neurobiology. CRC press, New York, Washington DC, pp 61–72
10.
go back to reference Gelbard HA, Boustany RM, Schor NF (1997) Apoptosis in development and disease of the nervous system. 2. Apoptosis in childhood neurologic disease. Pediatr Neurol 16:93–97CrossRefPubMed Gelbard HA, Boustany RM, Schor NF (1997) Apoptosis in development and disease of the nervous system. 2. Apoptosis in childhood neurologic disease. Pediatr Neurol 16:93–97CrossRefPubMed
11.
go back to reference Hausmann R (2002) Die Altersbestimmung von Hirnkontusionen bei gedecktem Schädel-Hirn-Trauma des Menschen. Arbeitsmethoden der Medizinischen und Naturwissenschaftlichen Kriminalistik, Band 25. Schmidt Römhild, Lübeck Hausmann R (2002) Die Altersbestimmung von Hirnkontusionen bei gedecktem Schädel-Hirn-Trauma des Menschen. Arbeitsmethoden der Medizinischen und Naturwissenschaftlichen Kriminalistik, Band 25. Schmidt Römhild, Lübeck
12.
go back to reference Hausmann R, Betz P (2000) The time course of the vascular response to human brain injury—an immunohistochemical study. Int J Legal Med 113:288–292PubMed Hausmann R, Betz P (2000) The time course of the vascular response to human brain injury—an immunohistochemical study. Int J Legal Med 113:288–292PubMed
13.
go back to reference Hausmann R, Betz P (2001) Course of glial immunoreactivity for vimentin, tenascin and α1-antichymotrypsin after traumatic injury to human brain. Int J Legal Med 114:338–342CrossRefPubMed Hausmann R, Betz P (2001) Course of glial immunoreactivity for vimentin, tenascin and α1-antichymotrypsin after traumatic injury to human brain. Int J Legal Med 114:338–342CrossRefPubMed
14.
go back to reference Hausmann R, Betz P (2002) The course of MIB-1 expression by cerebral macrophages following human brain injury. Legal Med 4:79–83CrossRefPubMed Hausmann R, Betz P (2002) The course of MIB-1 expression by cerebral macrophages following human brain injury. Legal Med 4:79–83CrossRefPubMed
15.
go back to reference Hausmann R, Kaiser A, Lang C, Bohnert M, Betz P (1999) A quantitative immunohistochemical study on the time-dependent course of acute inflammatory cellular response to human brain injury. Int J Legal Med 112:227–232CrossRefPubMed Hausmann R, Kaiser A, Lang C, Bohnert M, Betz P (1999) A quantitative immunohistochemical study on the time-dependent course of acute inflammatory cellular response to human brain injury. Int J Legal Med 112:227–232CrossRefPubMed
16.
go back to reference Hausmann R, Rieß R, Fieguth A, Betz P (2000) Immunohistochemical investigations on the course of astroglial GFAP expression following human brain injury. Int J Legal Med 113:70–75CrossRefPubMed Hausmann R, Rieß R, Fieguth A, Betz P (2000) Immunohistochemical investigations on the course of astroglial GFAP expression following human brain injury. Int J Legal Med 113:70–75CrossRefPubMed
17.
go back to reference Kaya SS, Mahmood A, Li Y, Yavuz E, Göksel M, Chopp M (1999) Apoptosis and expression of p53 response proteins and cyclin D1 after cortical impact in rat brain. Brain Res 818:23–33CrossRefPubMed Kaya SS, Mahmood A, Li Y, Yavuz E, Göksel M, Chopp M (1999) Apoptosis and expression of p53 response proteins and cyclin D1 after cortical impact in rat brain. Brain Res 818:23–33CrossRefPubMed
18.
go back to reference Keane RW, Kraydieh S, Lotocki G, Alonso OF, Aldana P, Dietrich D (2001) Apoptotic and antiapoptotic mechanisms after traumatic brain injury. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 21:1189–1198PubMed Keane RW, Kraydieh S, Lotocki G, Alonso OF, Aldana P, Dietrich D (2001) Apoptotic and antiapoptotic mechanisms after traumatic brain injury. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 21:1189–1198PubMed
19.
go back to reference Martin DP, Johnson EM (1991) Apoptosis in the peripheral nervous system. In: Tomei LD, Cope FO (eds) Current communications in cell and molecular biology: apoptosis: the molecular basis of cell death, Vol. 3. Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory Press, New York, pp 247–261 Martin DP, Johnson EM (1991) Apoptosis in the peripheral nervous system. In: Tomei LD, Cope FO (eds) Current communications in cell and molecular biology: apoptosis: the molecular basis of cell death, Vol. 3. Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory Press, New York, pp 247–261
20.
go back to reference Nakatome M, Matoba R, Ogura Y et al. (2002) Detection of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in forensic autopsy cases. Int J Legal Med 116:17–21PubMed Nakatome M, Matoba R, Ogura Y et al. (2002) Detection of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in forensic autopsy cases. Int J Legal Med 116:17–21PubMed
21.
go back to reference Narayanan V (1999) Cell death in the developing nervous system. In: Hannun YA, Boustany RM (eds) Apoptosis in neurobiology. CRC Press, New York Washington DC, pp 13–22 Narayanan V (1999) Cell death in the developing nervous system. In: Hannun YA, Boustany RM (eds) Apoptosis in neurobiology. CRC Press, New York Washington DC, pp 13–22
22.
go back to reference Neuen-Jakob E, Arendt G, Giesen HJ von, Wechsler W (1996) Neuronal cell apoptosis in the basal ganglia occurs early in the course of HIV encephalitis and may precede the clinical signs of HIV-1 associated dementia. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 22 [Suppl 1]:16–17 Neuen-Jakob E, Arendt G, Giesen HJ von, Wechsler W (1996) Neuronal cell apoptosis in the basal ganglia occurs early in the course of HIV encephalitis and may precede the clinical signs of HIV-1 associated dementia. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 22 [Suppl 1]:16–17
23.
go back to reference Ng I, Yeo TT, Tang WY, Soong R, Ng PY, Smith DR (2000) Apoptosis occurs after cerebral contusions in humans. Neurosurgery 46:949–956PubMed Ng I, Yeo TT, Tang WY, Soong R, Ng PY, Smith DR (2000) Apoptosis occurs after cerebral contusions in humans. Neurosurgery 46:949–956PubMed
24.
go back to reference Orihara Y, Nakasono I (2002) Induction of apolipoprotein E after traumatic brain injury in forensic autopsy cases. Int J Legal Med 116:92–98PubMed Orihara Y, Nakasono I (2002) Induction of apolipoprotein E after traumatic brain injury in forensic autopsy cases. Int J Legal Med 116:92–98PubMed
25.
go back to reference Petito CK, Roberts B (1995) Evidence of apoptotic cell death in HIV encephalitis. Am J Pathol 146:1121–1130PubMed Petito CK, Roberts B (1995) Evidence of apoptotic cell death in HIV encephalitis. Am J Pathol 146:1121–1130PubMed
26.
go back to reference Pravdenkova SV, Basnakian AG, James SJ, Andersen B (1996) DNA fragmentation and nuclear endonuclease activity in rat brain after severe closed head injury. Brain Res 729:151–155CrossRefPubMed Pravdenkova SV, Basnakian AG, James SJ, Andersen B (1996) DNA fragmentation and nuclear endonuclease activity in rat brain after severe closed head injury. Brain Res 729:151–155CrossRefPubMed
27.
go back to reference Probst-Cousin S, Rickert CH, Schmid KW, Gullotta F (1998) Cell death mechanisms in multiple system atrophy. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 57:814–821 Probst-Cousin S, Rickert CH, Schmid KW, Gullotta F (1998) Cell death mechanisms in multiple system atrophy. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 57:814–821
28.
go back to reference Puranam K, Boustany RM (1999) Assessment of cell viability and histochemical methods in apoptosis. In: Hannun YA, Boustany RM (eds) Apoptosis in neurobiology. CRC Press, New York Washington DC, pp 129–181 Puranam K, Boustany RM (1999) Assessment of cell viability and histochemical methods in apoptosis. In: Hannun YA, Boustany RM (eds) Apoptosis in neurobiology. CRC Press, New York Washington DC, pp 129–181
29.
go back to reference Rink A, Fung K, Trojanowski JQ, Lee VM, Neugebauer E, McIntosh TK (1995) Evidence of apoptotic cell death after experimental traumatic brain injury in the rat. Am J Pathol 147:1–9PubMed Rink A, Fung K, Trojanowski JQ, Lee VM, Neugebauer E, McIntosh TK (1995) Evidence of apoptotic cell death after experimental traumatic brain injury in the rat. Am J Pathol 147:1–9PubMed
30.
go back to reference Simonati A, Rosso T, Rizzuto N (1997) DNA fragmentation in normal development of the human central nervous system: a morphological study during corticogenesis. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 23:203PubMed Simonati A, Rosso T, Rizzuto N (1997) DNA fragmentation in normal development of the human central nervous system: a morphological study during corticogenesis. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 23:203PubMed
31.
go back to reference Suárez-Peñaranda JM, Rodríguez-Calvo MS, Ortiz-Rey JA et al. (2002) Demonstration of apoptosis in human skin injuries as an indicator of vital reaction. Int J Legal Med 116:109–112PubMed Suárez-Peñaranda JM, Rodríguez-Calvo MS, Ortiz-Rey JA et al. (2002) Demonstration of apoptosis in human skin injuries as an indicator of vital reaction. Int J Legal Med 116:109–112PubMed
32.
go back to reference Yakovlev AG, Knoblach SM, Fan L, Fox GB, Goodnight R, Faden AI (1997) Activation of CPP32-like caspases contributes to neuronal apoptosis and neurological dysfunction after traumatic brain injury. J Neurosci 17:7415–7424PubMed Yakovlev AG, Knoblach SM, Fan L, Fox GB, Goodnight R, Faden AI (1997) Activation of CPP32-like caspases contributes to neuronal apoptosis and neurological dysfunction after traumatic brain injury. J Neurosci 17:7415–7424PubMed
Metadata
Title
Neuronal apoptosis following human brain injury
Authors
R. Hausmann
T. Biermann
I. Wiest
J. Tübel
P. Betz
Publication date
01-02-2004
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 1/2004
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-003-0413-4

Other articles of this Issue 1/2004

International Journal of Legal Medicine 1/2004 Go to the issue