Viability of Human Articular Chondrocytes Harvested Postmortem: Changes with Time and Temperature of In Vitro Culture Conditions |
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| Authors: | Armin Alibegović MD PhD Jože Balažic MD PhD Danijel Petrovič MD PhD Gorazd Hribar PhD Rok Blagus PhD Matej Drobnič MD PhD |
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| Institution: | 1. Institute of Forensic Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, , 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;2. Institute of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, , 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;3. Laboratory for Biosynthesis and Biotransformation, National Institute of Chemistry, , 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;4. Institute of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, , 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;5. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Medical Center Ljubljana, , 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia |
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| Abstract: | Different studies of long‐term chondrocytes viability have shown a gradual reduction as a function of time and ambient temperature. The aim of our in vitro study was to establish chondrocyte postmortem viability curves for 4°C, 11°C, 23°C, 35°C during 63 days after the donors' death. Osteochondral cylinders were procured from the knees of 16 male donors (20–47 years), stored in preservation media that was not changed, and analyzed in 3‐day intervals using a confocal laser scanning microscope. A significant influence of time on viability was found from Day 9 (p = 0.0029) and onwards (p < 0.0001). The lowest overall chondrocyte viability was at 35°C, followed by 4°C (p < 0.0001). The conditions used in this in vitro analysis suggest that similar viabilities may occur while in situ in the decedent. Further studies of chondrocyte viability from individuals with known postmortem intervals may show premise to help evaluate time since death in the late postmortem interval. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science forensic pathology articular cartilage knee chondrocyte viability time since death ambient temperature confocal laser scanning microscope |
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