Effect of autolysis on the physico-chemical properties of mammalian skin
Nikolaeva, S.S.; Dubinskaia, V.A.; Mikhailov, A.N.; Koroleva, O.A.
Voprosy Meditsinskoi Khimii 27(3): 362-366
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-8809 PMID: 7281578 Document Number: 179243
Alterations in physico-chemical properties and in content of several biochemical components were found in skin during postmortal storage of the tissue at the temperature 22 degrees and 5 degrees and relative moisture 92%. Within 96-120 hrs of the postmortal storage a decrease in content of hydrate-bound water and of glycosaminoglycans occurred in the tissue. The alterations were accompanied by an increase in temperature of hydrothermic denaturation and in module of elasticity of the skin. As a result of autolysis solubility of collagen in water was increased at 65 degrees and its acid soluble fractions tended to become denatured although the content of hydroxyproline was unaltered. The processes occurring in the skin within the first period after death, might be considered as a two-step sequence: formation of additional interstructural hydrogen bonds and structure transformation of both collagen and glycosaminoglycans due to the effect of proteinases.