Post by djoser-xyyman on Dec 23, 2015 19:49:27 GMT -5
Let us put this to bed finally
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Histologic findings in mummified skin - Thomas A. Chapel, M.D., Amir H. Mehregan, M.D., and
Theodore A. Reyman, M.D.
Detroit, MJ
Skin specimens from five mummies were examined histologically. The specimens ranged in age from 2,000 to 3,200 years . Material from two mummies had carbonized and showed only amorphous debris. The histology of the three remaining skin fragments retained surprising histologic architectural detail. One specimen obtained from the sole of the foot was compatible with a callus.
(J AM ACAD
DERMATOL 4:27-30 , 1981.)
Determination of optimal rehydration, fixation and staining methods for histological and
immunohistochemical analysis of mummified soft tissues A-M Mekota1, M Vermehren2
Department of Biology I, Biodiversity Research/Anthropology1and Department of Veterinary Anatomy II2,
Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Germany
Submitted January 8, 2002; revised May 4, 2004; accepted August 12, 2004
Abstract
During an excavation headed by the German Institute for Archaeology, Cairo, at the tombs of the nobles in Thebes-West, Upper Egypt, three types of tissues from different mummies were sampled to compare 13 well known rehydration methods for mummified tissue with three newly developed methods. Furthermore, three fixatives were tested with each of the rehydration fluids. Meniscus (fibrocartilage), skin, and a placenta were used for this study. The rehydration and fixation procedures were uniform for all methods. The stains used were standard hematoxylin and eosin, elastica van Gieson, periodic acid-Schiff, and Grocott, and five commercially obtained immunohistochemical stains including pancytokeratin, vimentin, alpha-smooth-muscle-actin, basement membrane collagen type IV, and S-100 protein. The sections were examined by transmitted light microscopy. Our study showed that preservation of the tissue is dependent on the quality and effectiveness of the combination of the rehydration and fixation solutions, and that the quality of the histological and histochemical stains is dependent on the tissue quality. In addition, preservation of the antigens in the tissues is dependent on tissue quality, and fungal permeation had no influence on the tissue.
Finally, the results are tissue specific. For placenta the best solution combination was Sandison and solution III (both fixed with formaldehyde) while results for skin were best with Ruffer I (using formaldehyde and Schaffer as fixatives), Grupe et al. (using formaldehyde as a fixative) and solution III (in combination with formaldehyde and Bouin fixatives). Ruffer II (using formaldehyde as a fixative) and solution III (in combination with Schaffer fixative) gave the best results for fibrocartilage
Egyptian mummies were prepared by chemical dehydration, and the skin was covered with plant resin or mineral pitch prior to elaborate wrapping. Despite these factors, many areas of the skin of these mummies have been well preserved. The dehydration procedures and the passage of
centuries have made the skin hard, brittle, and virtually water-free. However, following rehydration
and histologic processing, surprising morphologic detail often remains . This report describes the histologic findings of skin fragments from five Egyptian mummies, although experience of one of us (T. A . R.) suggests that the changes in the Aleutian and North and South American mummies are similar.
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The specimens ranged in age from 2 ,000 to 3,200 years . The first four specimens were random skin sections, while the one from the Royal Ontario Museum mummy consisted of one of two contiguous papules, 0.3 to 0.5 em, from the sole of the right foot in the area of the second and third metatarsal heads
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Fig. 1. Tissue from the nape of the neck shows a ****DEEPLY*** pigmented epidermis. Occasional clear cells (arrow) are recognized at the dermoepidermal junction. In the papillary connective tissue are nuclei of fibroblasts. (Hematoxylin-eosin stain; X60.)
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Fig. 2. In the deep dermis is an acutely curved hair follicle suggesting formation of a KINKY HAIR SHAFT. (Hematoxylin-eosin stain; x60.)
-----------------
Histologic findings in mummified skin - Thomas A. Chapel, M.D., Amir H. Mehregan, M.D., and
Theodore A. Reyman, M.D.
Detroit, MJ
Skin specimens from five mummies were examined histologically. The specimens ranged in age from 2,000 to 3,200 years . Material from two mummies had carbonized and showed only amorphous debris. The histology of the three remaining skin fragments retained surprising histologic architectural detail. One specimen obtained from the sole of the foot was compatible with a callus.
(J AM ACAD
DERMATOL 4:27-30 , 1981.)
Determination of optimal rehydration, fixation and staining methods for histological and
immunohistochemical analysis of mummified soft tissues A-M Mekota1, M Vermehren2
Department of Biology I, Biodiversity Research/Anthropology1and Department of Veterinary Anatomy II2,
Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Germany
Submitted January 8, 2002; revised May 4, 2004; accepted August 12, 2004
Abstract
During an excavation headed by the German Institute for Archaeology, Cairo, at the tombs of the nobles in Thebes-West, Upper Egypt, three types of tissues from different mummies were sampled to compare 13 well known rehydration methods for mummified tissue with three newly developed methods. Furthermore, three fixatives were tested with each of the rehydration fluids. Meniscus (fibrocartilage), skin, and a placenta were used for this study. The rehydration and fixation procedures were uniform for all methods. The stains used were standard hematoxylin and eosin, elastica van Gieson, periodic acid-Schiff, and Grocott, and five commercially obtained immunohistochemical stains including pancytokeratin, vimentin, alpha-smooth-muscle-actin, basement membrane collagen type IV, and S-100 protein. The sections were examined by transmitted light microscopy. Our study showed that preservation of the tissue is dependent on the quality and effectiveness of the combination of the rehydration and fixation solutions, and that the quality of the histological and histochemical stains is dependent on the tissue quality. In addition, preservation of the antigens in the tissues is dependent on tissue quality, and fungal permeation had no influence on the tissue.
Finally, the results are tissue specific. For placenta the best solution combination was Sandison and solution III (both fixed with formaldehyde) while results for skin were best with Ruffer I (using formaldehyde and Schaffer as fixatives), Grupe et al. (using formaldehyde as a fixative) and solution III (in combination with formaldehyde and Bouin fixatives). Ruffer II (using formaldehyde as a fixative) and solution III (in combination with Schaffer fixative) gave the best results for fibrocartilage
Egyptian mummies were prepared by chemical dehydration, and the skin was covered with plant resin or mineral pitch prior to elaborate wrapping. Despite these factors, many areas of the skin of these mummies have been well preserved. The dehydration procedures and the passage of
centuries have made the skin hard, brittle, and virtually water-free. However, following rehydration
and histologic processing, surprising morphologic detail often remains . This report describes the histologic findings of skin fragments from five Egyptian mummies, although experience of one of us (T. A . R.) suggests that the changes in the Aleutian and North and South American mummies are similar.
=====
The specimens ranged in age from 2 ,000 to 3,200 years . The first four specimens were random skin sections, while the one from the Royal Ontario Museum mummy consisted of one of two contiguous papules, 0.3 to 0.5 em, from the sole of the right foot in the area of the second and third metatarsal heads
=====
Fig. 1. Tissue from the nape of the neck shows a ****DEEPLY*** pigmented epidermis. Occasional clear cells (arrow) are recognized at the dermoepidermal junction. In the papillary connective tissue are nuclei of fibroblasts. (Hematoxylin-eosin stain; X60.)
=====
Fig. 2. In the deep dermis is an acutely curved hair follicle suggesting formation of a KINKY HAIR SHAFT. (Hematoxylin-eosin stain; x60.)
