Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 87. (Budapest 1995)

Józsa, L. ; Pap, I.: Histochemical and immunohistochemical analysis of mummy skin

ANNALES HISTORECO-NATURALES MUSEI NATIONALIS HUNGARICI Tomus 87. Budapest, 1995 p. 137-146 Histochemical and immunohistochemical analysis of mummy skin* by L. JÓZSA & I. PAP, Budapest JÓZSA, L. & PAP, I. (1995): Histochemical and immunohistochemical analysis of mummy skin. Annls hist.-nat. Mus. natn. hung. 87: 137-146. Abstract - Two Egyptian mummies' facial skin fragments were analysed by histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. The melanin contents of epithelium and the glycoproteins and proteoglycans of corium were clearly presented. Glycosaminoglycans were only faintly tintable. The peroxidase activity of red blood cells could be indicated by benzidine reaction. Immunohistochemical analysis made it possible to detect collagen Types I, III and IV, laminin, fibronectin and desmin. Epithelium contained cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen. With 12 figures and 2 tables. INTRODUCTION Microscopic examination of mummified tissue was initiated at the middle of the last century. JÁNOS CZERMÁK, professor of the university of Pest, was the first (1852) who published his data of observations. At the beginning of this century an increasing number of histological reports was published (SMITH 1908, RUFFER 1911). Microscopic analysis gave a new dimension to the identification and certain diagnosis of a growing number of diseases. Not only arteriosclerosis but pneumonia, plague, nephritis and some diseases of the liver were also possible to detect. The ultrastructural level demonstrated reasonable preservation of cellular organelles (LEWIN 1967). Sometimes even pathogenic agents (Koch bacillus, fungi, worm eggs) became recognizable (RUFFER 1910, ALLISON et al. 1979, JÓZSA 1966, WEI 1973). Electron microscopy of mummified tissues made it possible to demonstrate smallpox-like viral particles (LEWIN 1984, 1991, FORNACIARI & MACHETTI 1986). Histochemistry (the study of the distribution of substances in tissues) (HALE & MARGHAM 1988) is based on well-known chemical reactions and physico-chemical characteristics, it makes tissue components and/or materials accumulating under pathological conditions visible. The composition of fatty tissue ingredients, polysaccharides of connective tissue and chondral matrix, urate crystals of gouty concretions as well as a number of other substances were established by histochemical analysis (BORN 1959, SANDISON 1955, 1959, LEE & STENN 1978, STENN 1981). Enzymatic actions of cells and the localization of the different enzymes are also feasible in recent material. However, it is still beyond the limitations of our methods to identify their presence in mummy tissues as far as we know it. Immunohistochemistry reveals the presence of all materials and living organisms (bacteria and viruses) initiating antibody production (YAZDI & DARDICK 1991). The high sensibility of immune reactions makes it possible to detect even matters of just a few molecules. Their specificity is 99-100%. Aspecific reactions fall under two types. There is a type where antigen-antibody reaction is not generic. For example human collagen starts the production of antibodies that react to the collagen proteins of other species as well. The other type of This study was supported by the Hungarian National Scientific Research Fund (OTKA No. 3161 and 3162).