CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM INDICES IN BODY TISSUES EXPOSED TO LOW TEMPERATURES

Aim. To analyze the indices of tissue carbohydrate metabolism for determination of tanatogenesis processes and establishment of immediate causes of death in sufferers with craniocerebral injury and drowning in conditions of low temperatures of environment. Materials and methods. Tissue glycogen and lactate content (hepatic, skeletal muscular and myocardial) was studied using sectional material from 111 persons, who died from craniocerebral injury as a result of traffic accident and 80 persons - from drowning in cold water. Material from 16 persons, who died from cardiac pathology, served as a control. Two groups of comparison were formed: 25 and 30 persons, who died from hypothermia. Results. The most informative and significant for diagnosis was lactate content in the skeletal muscle, critically decreasing with death occurring as a result of hypothermia. Thus, an immediate cause of death from craniocerebral injury as well as drowning in conditions of low temperatures of environment is hypothermia (more than a half of cases). Conclusions. Glycogen and lactate content in the skeletal muscle permits to assess the immediate cause of death in persons, who had suffered from craniocerebral injury and from drowning in conditions of low temperatures. Absence or significant fall in glycogen content as well as decrease in lactate content < 41 mcmol/g in skeletal muscle prove hypothermia to be an immediate cause of death.

Glycogen, lactate, craniocerebral injury, drowning, hypothermia