title: [Correlation between PMI and DNA degradation of costicartilage and dental pulp cells in human being].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To probe the correlation between the postmortem interval (PMI) and the DNA degradation of costicartilage and dental pulp cells in human being after death, and to seek a new method for estimating PMI.
  
  
  METHODS
  The image cytometry was used to measure the DNA degradation under different ambient temperatures (30-35 degrees C, 15-20 degrees C) in 0-15 days after death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average DNA content of two kinds of tissue was degradated with the prolongation of PMI. But there was a plateau period of 0-4 days for dental pulp cells of human being in 15-20 degrees C. There was a high negative correlativity P<0.01 between the average DNA content and PMI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PMI could be estimated accurately according to the DNA degradation of costicartilage and dental pulp cells in human being after death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Nanhua University, Hengyang 421001, China.
authors.forename: Ren
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Wei-ping
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xiong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy; D002356:Cartilage / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D012272:Ribs / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004247:DNA