Correlative Analysis on the Relationship between PMI and DNA Degradation of Cell Nucleus in Human Different Tissues

• Published in: Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Medical sciences Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 423 - 426
• Main Author: 舒细记 刘亚玲 任亮 何方刚 周红艳 刘丽江 刘良
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China 2005; Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China%Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science andTechnology, Wuhan 430022, China%Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China%Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
• Subjects: Cell Nucleus - pathology; DNA Degradation, Necrotic; DNA退化; Forensic Pathology; Humans; Liver - pathology; Postmortem Changes; Spleen - pathology; Time Factors; 人体组织; 图象分析技术; 死亡时间; 细胞核; 脑组织; 脾脏组织; forensic pathology; image analysis; postmortem interval; DNA
• ISSN: 1672-0733; 1993-1352
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02828213

Summary： To determining the postmortem interval （PMI） through quantitative analysis of the DNA degradation of cell nucleus in human brain and spleen by using image analysis technique （IAT）. The brain and spleen tissues from 32 cadavers with known PMI were collected, subjected to cell smear every 1 h within the first 5-36 h after death, stained by Feulgen-Van＇s staining, Three indices reflecting DNA in brain cells （astrocytes） and splenic lymphocytes, including integral optical density （IOD）, average optical density （AOD）, average gray （AG） were measured by employing the mage analysis instrument. The results showed that IOD and AOD declined and AG increased with the prolongation of dead time within 5 36 h. A correlation between the PMI and gray parameters （IOD,AOD and AG） was identified and the corresponding regression equation was obtained. The parameters （IOD, AOD and AG） were proved to be effective quantitative indicators for accurate estimation of PMI within 5-36 h after death.