RESUMEN
Localization and estimation of histamine(HA)content in the wound edge in 81cases of SD rats were carried out by microfluorometric method specific for this aminewhich forms a complex with ophthalaedehyde(OPT).At the same time,thedistribution and the density of the mast calls in the same areas were observed byToluidine blue stain.in all skin specimens with antemortem wounds,both the epidermisand upper dermis exhibited extracellular yellowish fluorescente band of the HA-OPTcomplex.The zone spreaded in wound edge with the lapse of time in antemorteminjuries.The content of HA increased gradually up to 30′,and then yellow hista- mine fluorescence in areas 0-200? extended from wound edge decreased.None of thesefeatures could be observed in normal control skin and postmortemin jured skin.themast cell degranulation could be demonstrated in all antemortem injured skin.Nostatistic relationship between the degranulation of mast cell and the HA-OPTfluorescence existed in either ante-or post-mortem injured groups.This study indi-cated that the skin HA microfluoremetry by OPT method has practical value fordistingushing the ante-from post-mortem wounds and for timing antemortem wounds.