Postmortem interval estimation by time-dependent changes of morphology and biomechanical properties in brain tissues
10.16156/j.1004-7220.2017.05.02
- VernacularTitle:通过脑形态及生物力学特性时序性变化推断死亡时间
- Author:
Chang TANG
1
;
Chao LIU
1
,
2
;
Rui-bing SU
1
;
Jun-Yao LV
1
;
Shan-qing CAI
1
;
Xiao-hu XU
1
;
Xiao-jun YU
1
Author Information
1. Department of Forensic Medicine, Shantou University Medical College
2. Evidence Identification Chamber, Public Security Bureau of Jinjiang City of Fujian Province
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Forensic pathology;
Postmortem interval (PMI);
Brain tissue;
Biomechanics;
Structure-activity relationship
- From:
Journal of Medical Biomechanics
2017;32(5):E401-E406
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To explore the regularity of time-dependent changes in morphology and biomechanical properties of brain tissues in pigs, and value the feasibility of deducing the postmortem interval (PMI). Methods Brain tissues were taken from 42 pigs and kept in an artificial climate chamber with the temperature of 25 ℃ and humidity of 75%. The samples were collected from telencephalon at sequential time intervals (0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 h；n=6) according to the principle of predefined time, position, direction, ratio, quantity and shape. The samples fixed with formaldehyde were then immediately tested by mechanical testing machine to obtain their biomechanical parameters and the histological sections were prepared. Results With the extension of PMI (0-60 h), brain tissues gradually became discolored, weak, mudding and liquefied under the influence of autolysis and putrefaction. Both clearance area of the white matter and its integrated optical density (IOD) significantly increased during 0-48 h. Biomechanical properties of brain tissues including the limit load, average force, elastic modulus and fracture energy all presented a declining tendency at the interval of 12-60 h. The limit load was considered highly statistically significant, and statistical differences were found in average force, elastic modulus and fracture energy. Conclusions There exists a significantly negative structure-activity relationship between the morphology of brain tissues and biomechanical properties. The limit load of postmortem brain tissues in 60 h is the optimum in the window period, which can be used as a new method for estimating PMI.
