[The effect of electricity on the myoglobin content of the human heart and skeletal muscles].

The myoglobin content of heart muscles was examined by the indirect immunoperoxidase method in eight autopsy cases where death was due to electricity. Seven cases showed a considerable release of myoglobin from the myocardial fibers. In experimental comparison, the heart muscles and skeletal muscles from nine cases where death was natural were exposed to electricity, and considerable deletion of myoglobin was also demonstrated. We believe that the findings of ischemia or thermal effects due to electricity were the cause of the release of myoglobin. Because the demonstration of myoglobin is preferable to estimation of the damaged areas of muscles by hematoxylin-eosin staining, this examination may be more advantageous in forensic examination of death by electricity.