Histological analysis of post-mortem specimens

Samples of tissues (brain, lungs, heart, liver, spleen, and kidneys), collected during autopsy examination, were fixated in 10% buffered formalin. After fixation, fragments of 2.0 × 0.5 cm were dehydrated using an Automatic Linear Tissue Processor (ATP700, Histo-Line Laboratories) in increasing ethanol solutions (80%, 90%, 95%, and absolute alcohol in three steps), were clarified in a xylene substitute (three steps), and then embedded in high fusion point paraffin (56–58 °C) in three steps. Two µ-thick slides were cut using a Reichert microtome from each sample. These slides were let drying overnight in oven at 37 °C. All sections were then stained with H&E staining and with Masson’s Trichrome staining according to Goldner. All the microscope slides were examined using a Leica DMR optic microscope and the most significant areas were photographed using a Leica DC300 F digital camera.