Late Postmortem changes – Adipocere

Adipocere = Saponification- hydrolysis and hydrogenation of fat (Olein and higher fatty acid) by lipases + lecithinase (Cl. Perfringens) hydrolysis, hydrogenation → with Ca+, NH3  → insoluble soap (whole fat to palmitic, oleic, stearic and hydroxy stearic acid). After death – fat contain – ½ % FA. In adipocere – FA ↑ 20% (1 month), 70% (3 months). Conditions for adipocere formation: Immersion in water, damp and warm climate + Enzyme lecithinase + fatty tissue. Sites: Buttocks, breast, face, and abdomen. Adipocere has offensive or sweetish smell earlier, later ammoniacal odour; Fresh adipocere– soft, moist, whitish, translucent and float on water, dissolved in alcohol and ether and gives yellow flame on burning, old adipocere hard and cracked appearance. Time required- 3 weeks to upto 3-6 months in summer. It may last for years or decades. Foetus < 7 mths – no adipocere.

Adipocere has a offensive rancid or an unpleasant sweetish smell.

It occurs as a result of hydrolysis and hydrogenation of preexisting fats into higher fatty acids which later combines with calcium and ammonium ions to form soluble soap which resists putrefaction.

Ref: Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology by Narayan Reddy, Edition 23, Page – 137, 138.

C i.e. Cheesy odour

Adipocere has a distinct offensive (rancid) odour or penetrating ammonical odour or sweetish smellQ

B i.e. Also called Saponification; C i.e. Sweetish smell

Ans. D i.e. Cl. welchii

Ans. Takes place in bodies buried in dry sandy soil

Ans. is ‘b’ i.e., It is developed in presence of air

Adipocere formation (saponification).

Adipocere is a modification of putrefaction, which occurs in the absence of air. That is when there is excessive moisture (humidity) and warnth (warm temperature), but absence of air i.e. warm humid climate, normal putrefaction does not occur, rather saponification occurs.

Thus adipocese formation occurs in dead bodies which are lying in water (immered in water) or burned in damp lay soil.

• Saponification (adipocer formation) is the conversion of dead body into soft, fatty waxy substance due to conversion of unsaturated liquid fats to saturated solid fats under the influence of intrinsic lipase and lecithinase produced by Cl. perfringens. The process involves gradual hydrolysis and hydrogenation of body fats into higher fatty acids which combine with calcium and ammonium ions to form insoluble soaps. Ultimately, palmitic, oleic, stearic and hydroxystearic acids are formed, mixture of these is known as adipocere.
• Adipocere formation starts in subcutaneous fat and is marked in areas having excessive fat, eg. cheeks, female breast, buttocks and abdomen. Slowly the whole body including muscles and internal viscera change into adipocere. Adipocere has offensive or sweetish smell, however in early stages, smell is ammonical.
• Body is converted into soft, waxy and brittle substance, it floats on water, it can be cut easily, it dissolves in alcohol and ethers, and it melts on heating. Facial features and injuries on body are well preserved, thus identfication of body and determination cause of death (in case of injury) are possible.
• Normally adipocere formation requires 3 weeks to upto 3 to 6 months. However shortest recorded period in india is 3 days 22 hours. In india, it has been observed to begin within 4-5 days. Adipocere may persist for years or decades. Adipocere does not occur in foetus less than 7 month’s.
• Medicolegal importance : (i) Identification of body (facial features are preserved), (ii) cause of death (injury marks are preserved), (iii) time since death can be estimated.

Ans. is ‘c’ i.e., Warm and damp environment

Adipocere

• It is also called saponification

• It is a modification of putrefaction

• In this, the fatty tissues of the body change into a substance known as adipocere.

It is most commonly seen in the body immersed in water or in a damp, warm environment.

• Moisture present, warmth present, air present → Putrefaction.

• Moisture present, warmth present, air absent, i.e. warm humid climate → Adipocere formation (saponification).

• Moisture absent, warmth present, air present, i.e. hot dry climate → Mummification.