title: Concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) in postmortem human tissues: effect of environmental CO exposure.
abstract: We studied how carbon monoxide (CO) is distributed within the human body through quantitation of CO concentrations in postmortem tissue samples from fatalities including possible CO exposure. Stored, frozen tissues were diced, sonicated in water, and 0.01-8.0 mg wet weight (ww) tissues were incubated with sulfosalicylic acid in CO-purged, septum-sealed vials. CO released into the headspace was quantitated by reduction gas chromatography. Mean tissue CO concentrations (pmol/mg ww) from subjects diagnosed to have no known CO exposure (control, N=14), died from fire (N=13), and CO asphyxiation (N=7), respectively, were: adipose (2;13;9), brain (3;13;65), muscle (15;97;297), heart (30;99;371), kidney (22;432;709, lung (54;690;2638), spleen (73;1366;3548), and blood (162;2238;5070). Carboxyhemoglobin concentrations were 1.4%, 25.2%, and 69.1% of total hemoglobin, respectively. We conclude that measurements of CO concentration in a variety of tissues can be used as markers for the degree of exogenous CO exposure and the identification of possible causes of death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5208, USA. henk.vreman@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Hendrik J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Vreman
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Smialek
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Vigorito
authors.forename: H Ronald
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Zielke
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000737:chemistry; D013154:Spleen / Q000737:chemistry; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin