| Persistence of spermatozoa on decomposing human skin: a scanning electron microscopy study. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 23324810 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Finding spermatozoa is of the utmost importance in judicial cases involving both the living and the dead; however, most of literature actually deals with inner genitalia and does not take into consideration the chance of external deposition of semen on skin, which is not rare. In addition, the most advanced microscopic technologies such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have not been thoroughly investigated within this specific field of research. This study aims at applying SEM analysis to samples of decomposed skin in order to test its potential in detecting spermatozoa particularly in decomposed cadavers. A sample of skin was obtained at autopsy and divided into two thin strips; one of the samples was used as a negative control. Semen was then taken from a "donor" (with a normal spermiogram) and was spread onto the other skin sample. Every 3 days for the first 15 days (for a total of six samples), a standard slide was prepared from swabs on the treated and control skin and analyzed by standard light microscopy. In addition, every 7 days up to 91 days (3 months circa), a skin sample was taken from the positive and negative control and examined by SEM for a total of 14 samples. Results show that after 12 days, light microscopy failed in detecting spermatozoa, whereas they were still visible up to 84 days by SEM analysis. This study therefore suggests the persistence of sperm structures in time and in decomposing material as well as the possible application of SEM technology to decomposed skin in order to detect semen. |
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Authors:
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D Gibelli; D Mazzarelli; A Rizzi; A Kustermann; C Cattaneo |
Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2013-1-17 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: International journal of legal medicine Volume: - ISSN: 1437-1596 ISO Abbreviation: Int. J. Legal Med. Publication Date: 2013 Jan |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2013-1-17 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9101456 Medline TA: Int J Legal Med Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Affiliation:
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LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, V. Mangiagalli 37, Milan, Italy. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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