OBJECTIVE: In order to find a new parameter to estimate the postmortem interval, beta-actin mRNA in lung and thoracic muscle of rats was detected at different time point postmortem. METHODS: Rats were killed by neck dislocation and left in a temperature controlling system at 21 degrees C for 12 days postmortem. Total RNA in lung and thoracic muscle at different time point was extracted and beta-actin mRNA expression was examined by RT-PCR. Semi-quantification analysis of the image of electrophoresis was performed to confirm the changes of beta-actin mRNA expression. RESULTS: beta-actin mRNA in lung of rats still could be detected at 12 days postmortem, but-disappeared in thoracic muscle at 8 days postmortem. CONCLUSION The expression of beta-actin mRNA in lung and thoracic muscle could be a new parameter for estimation of PMI.
Actins/genetics* ; Animals ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Lung/metabolism* ; Male ; Pectoralis Muscles/metabolism* ; Postmortem Changes ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors

Adult ; CD56 Antigen ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Granzymes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Pectoralis Muscles ; pathology ; surgery ; RNA, Viral ; metabolism ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Thoracic Wall ; pathology ; surgery