J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 55(2): 137-146, 1954

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Original article

HISTO-PATHOLOGIC STUDIES OF THE BRAIN IN ELECTRIC INJURIES

Histo-pathologic changes of the brain in electric head injury were studied, comparing them with the changes of the brain in cases of electric injuries passing through from the thorax to the bilateral thighs.
1. Materials and methods of the experiments The animals were all healthy adult rabbits which weighed about 2.0 kg.
A. Head electric injury
Kinds of electricity: Alternating and direct current
Voltage: 100 and 300 Volts
Volume of electricity: From 500 to 4050 Joules
Points of electricity trunsmission:
a) between both temporal regions
b) between frontal and occipital regions
c) between parietal region and upper palate on the midline
fatal dose of electicity: above 2000 Joule
B. Both thighs electric injury
Kinds of electricity: Alternating and direct current
Voltage: 100 ＆ 300 Volts.
Volume of electricity: from 7400 to 25400 Joules
Points of electricity transmission: between both thighs on their inner surface
Anesthetics given prior and after electricity transmission:
a) 10% Evipansodium (pro. kg 0.3~0.4cc)
b) 20.0% Urethan
Fatal dose of electricity: above 8000 Joules
C. Thorax electric injury
Kind of electricity : Alternating Current, only
Voltage: from 1140 to 1630 Joules
Points of electricity transmission :
a) between both front legs
b) between the front leg on one side and the hind leg on the other side
The brains of the rabbits which died in these experiments were examined with Hematoxylin- Eosin Stain, Nissl stain and Myelin stain.
2. Results of the experiment
Macroscopically, remarkable dilatation and rupture of cerebral vessels, hematoma and hemorrhage were demonstrated in case of more than 2000 Joules of head electric injury.
Microscopically, in head electric injury, remarkable hemorrhage, vacuole formation and necrosis were the most prominent findings. These findings were most serious at the points of electricity transmission. With Nissl stain, irregular arrangement of Nissl granules and destruction of ganglion cells were seen, and with Myelin stain, breaking off of neurofibrils was demonstrated.
In both thighs electric injury, general anesthesia reduced the grade of circulatory disturbances-hemorrhage, serum stasis and congestion of vessels, but did not reduce the disturbances of brain substance. In thorax electric injury, no such remarkable finding was seen in any case.
3. Discussion and summary
Although the cause of death in electric injury was called respiratory paresis (Jellinek), cardiac paresis (Schridde) or asphyxia (Asada), it is quite difficult to determine the real cause of death uniformly,
In case of head electric injury, the cause of death must be the disturbance of central nervous system, both thighs electric injury might cause traumatic shock, and thorax electric injury might cause cardiac failure. (author's abstract)

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