The effects of electrical impulse generated by isolated input and water conductivity on histopathological and biochemical parameters in rat's skin and internal organs

Objective Changes in biochemical parameters and histopathological examinations, especially in deaths due to water conductivity, are helpful in determining the cause of death in deaths that are suspected of being electrical shock without entry-exit lesions. Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide, which has recently been shown to increase in response to increased ventricular wall stress, cardiac fatty acid binding protein, cardiac troponinI and creatine-kinase-MB levels in rat serums that are extracted from experimentally electrocuted rats were compared with histopathological findings in some tissues (skin-burned lesion, heart, liver and cerebellum). Diagnostic value was searched for deaths that did not have a burn lesion in etiology. Material and Method: Forty-two female Wistar Albino rats were divided into three groups: control group (group-1), isolated electrical input (group-2), and electric-shock with water-conductivity (group-3). Pro-BNP, H-FABP, CK-MB and cTnI levels were examined in serum of animals in the control group given electric current (220 V). Tissue samples fixed in 10% formaldehyde were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin (H-E) and evaluated with light microscopy. The findings were evaluated statistically and p<0.05 was considered. Results Serum H-FABP level after electrocution via water-conductivity were significantly lower than group 1 and 2 (p <0.05). There was no significant difference between groups 1 and 2 (p> 0.05). ProBNP, CK-MB, cTnI values were within normal limits in all groups. There were no significant histomorphological findings and differences in brain, cerebellum, heart and liver sections between groups 2 and 3 of wet and dry electrocution. Subcellular changes will be examined immunohistochemically. Conclusion This study, which we think will contribute to the clarification of one of the causes of negative autopsy in forensic medicine applications, we believe that suspicious deaths due to electrical shock, especially water conductivity, can be elucidated by histopathologic examination and biochemical markers. By immunohistochemical staining of Bax, Caspase-3 and HSP-60; in skin, brain, brainstem, heart and liver, statistically some significant differences between all groups were determined. Key Words: Experimental study, electric shock, water conductivity, H-FABP, Bax, Caspase-3, HSP60, histopathological examination