The state of brain ventricles and their ependima in different scenarios of traumatic blood loss

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the state of ependima and the subependimal layer of the brain ventricles after death from the traumatic blood loss and in the cases of the blood loss under conditions of acute alcoholic and narcotic intoxication. The methods used for this purpose included light and scanning electron microscopy. It was shown that in subjects who died from the traumatic blood loss during acute alcoholic and narcotic intoxication ependima showed the signs of progressive polymorphism and had extensive areas of discontinued cell layers. Neuropil contained numerous vacuoles and blood effusion sites. The surface of ependima exhibited pathological erythrocytes, agglomerations of detritus, and crystalloid structures. The blood loss during combined alcoholic and narcotic intoxication resulted in more pronounced alterations in the ventricular walls.