Spectrophotometric determination of trimethylamine-nitrogen in cadaver tissues for the estimation of late postmortem interval: a pilot study.
- Author:
Qian, LIU
;
Xiangyang, CAI
;
Yan, LIU
;
Lan, ZHOU
;
Shaohua, YI
;
Liang, LIU
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Cadaver;
Forensic Pathology;
Methylamines/*analysis;
Nitrogen/*analysis;
Pilot Projects;
Postmortem Changes;
Random Allocation;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley;
Spectrophotometry;
Time Factors
- From:
Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Medical Sciences)
2008;28(6):630-3
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
To study the relationship between the late postmortem interval (PMI) and trimethylamine-nitrogen (TMA-N) in postmortem tissues of cadaver, TMA-N in muscles, livers and kidneys of rats was measured at different postmortem intervals (PMI) by using a modified spectrophotometric method. The results indicated that the detection sensitivity of TMA-N was 1 mg/L, and there was a good linear correlation between the value of absorbance (A value) and TMA-N at the concentration of 1-10 mg/L (R (2) = 0.9991). Although TMA variation in muscles was different from that in inner organs during the time since death, TMA-N changes in cadaver tissues was positively correlated with PMI. During 2 to 7 d since death, the best correlation between PMI and TMA-N concentration was found in muscles. With PMI as an independent variable, the cubic polynomial regression equation was y= -0.457x(3)+6.519x(2)-24.574x+27.207 (R (2)=0.969). During 3 to 8 days since death, PMI was best correlated with TMA-N concentration in inner organs. With PMI as the independent variable, the cubic polynomial regression equation was y=0.509x(3)-9.153x(2)+55.727x-95.819 (R (2)=0.953). It was concluded that TMA-N in tissues could be used as a new estimator for late PMI. The method used in this study offered advantages such as accuracy, sensitivity, little samples required and wide PMI estimation.
