Coagulative necrosis
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2008-05-13T08:48:06Z
Ashton1983
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'''Coagulative Necrosis''' is a type of accidental cell [[death]] typically caused by [[ischemia]] or [[infarction]].
It is characterised by the 'ghostly' appearance of cells under light microscopy in the affected area of tissue. Like most types of [[necrosis]] if enough [[labile cells]] are present around the affected area [[regeneration]] can occur.
== Causes ==
Coagulative necrosis is most commonly caused by [[hypoxia|hypoxic]] conditions, which don't involve severe [[Physical trauma|trauma]], [[toxins]] or an [[acute (medical)|acute]] or [[chronic]] [[immune response]]. The lack of oxygen causes cell death in a localised area which is perfused by blood vessels failing to deliver primarily oxygen, but also other important nutrients. It is important to note that while ischemia in most tissues of the body will cause coagulative necrosis, in the central nervous system ischemia causes [[liquefactive necrosis]] as there is very little structural framework in the brain tissue.
== Pathology ==
=== Macroscopic ===
The macroscopic appearance of an area of coagulative necrosis is a pale segment of tissue contrasting against surrounding well vascularised tissue. The surrounding survivng cells can aid in regeneration of the affected tissue unless they are [[stable cells|stable]] or [[permanent cells|permanent]].
=== Microscopic ===
The microscopic anatomy shows a lighter staining tissue (when stained with [[H&E]]) containing no nuclei with very little structural damage giving the appearance often quoted as 'ghost cells'. The decreased staining is due to digested nuceli which no longer show up as dark purple when stained with [[hematoxylin]] and removed cytoplasmic structures giving reduced amounts of intracellular protein reducing the usual dark pink staining cytoplasm with [[eosin]].
== Regeneration ==
As the majority of the structural remnants of the necrotic tissue remains, labile cells adjacent to the affected tissue will replicate and replace the cells which have been killed during the event. Labile cells are constantly undergoing [[mitosis]] and can therefore help reform the tissue, whereas nearby stable and permanent cells (eg. [[neurons]] and [[cardiomyocytes]]) do not undergo mitosis and will not replace the tissue affected. [[Fibroblasts]] will also migrate to the affected area depositing fibrous tissue producing [[fibrosis]] or [[scarring]] in areas where labile cells do not replicate and replace tissue.
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[[Category:Death]]
[[Category:Cellular processes]]