Abstract: Most brain cells belong to pyramidal cells which are very sensitive toward conditions that cause cell death. This study was aimed to obtain macroscopic and microscopic postmortem changes of the brain according to time variations up to 48 hours. This study was conducted at Histology Laboratorium, Medical Faculty of Sam Ratulangi University, Manado. Two domestic pigs weighing 20 kg were used as models. Macroscopic and microscopic observations were done at certain interval times. The results showed that at 16 hours postmortem, the brain looked pale, its consistency became softer and watery, and the inner part would crumble under touch. At 44 hours postmortem most of the brain became watery which was complete at 48 hours postmortem. Microscopic observations were done on brain samples at time intervals, as follows: 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, 6 hours, 9 hours, 10 hours, 12 hours, 14 hours, 16 hours, 18 hours, 20 hours, 22 hours, and 24 hours postmortem. The earliest microscopic change was observed at 3 hours postmortem as the enlargement of clear zones around the pyramidal cells. At 7 hours postmortem, the pyramidal cells became flattened, darker, and shorter. At 18 hours postmortem, the pyramidal cells underwent fragmentation, and at 24 hours postmortem they became lysis leaving empty spaces. Conclusion: All parts of the brain became watery at 48 hours postmortem. The microscopic changes were the enlargemnet of clear zones around the pyramidal cells, the cells became darker, flattened, and shorter, underwent fragmentation and lysis leaving empty spaces.Keywords: postmortem, macroscopic and microscopic changed, pyramidal cell Abstrak: Sebagian besar sel penyusun otak ialah sel piramidal yang sangat peka terhadap keadaan yang dapat menyebabkan kematian sel. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan perubahan makroskopik dan mikroskopik postmortem dari otak besar berdasarkan variasi waktu sampai 48 jam pada hewan coba. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Laboratorium Histologi Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Sam Ratulangi Manado. Hewan coba ialah dua ekor babi domestik, berat badan sekitar 20 kg. Pengamatan makroskopik dan mikroskopik dilakukan pada interval waktu tertentu. Hasil penelitian mendapatkan pada 16 jam postmortem otak besar tampak pucat, konsistensi melunak, berair, dan bagian dalam akan hancur bila disentuh. Pada 44 jam postmortem sebagian besar bagian otak besar telah mencair yang menjadi lengkap pada 48 jaam postmortem. Pengamatan mikroskopik dilakukan terhadap sediaan otak besar dengan interval waktu 1 jam, 2 jam, 3 jam, 4 jam, 5 jam, 6 jam, 9 jam, 10 jam, 12 jam, 14 jam, 16 jam, 18 jam, 20 jam, 22 jam, 24 jam postmortem. Perubahan mikroskopik paling awal terlihat pada 3 jam postmortem berupa zona jernih mengelilingi sel-sel piramidal. Pada 7 jam postmortem sel-sel piramidal tampak gelap, memipih, dan memendek. Pada 18 jam postmortem sel-sel piramidal mengalami fragmentasi dan lisis pada 24 jam postmortem dengan meninggalkan ruang-ruang kosong. Simpulan: Seluruh otak besar telah mencair pada 48 jam postmortem. Perubahan mikroskopik yang teridentifikasi ialah pelebaran zona jernih sekeliling sel piramidal, sel-sel piramidal tampak gelap, memipih, dan memendek, fragmentasi, dan lisis pada 24 jam postmortem dengan meninggalkan ruang-ruang kosong. Kata kunci: postmortem, perubahan makroskopik and mikroskopik, sel piramidal
Visualizing Cell Death in Experimental Focal Cerebral Ischemia: Promises, Problems, and Perspectives
