[The correlation between the DNA content in human thyroid follicular epithelial cells and the postmortem interval].
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between the DNA content in follicular epithelial cells of the human thyroid and postmortem interval (PMI).


METHODS
Changes of the DNA content in thyroid follicular epithelial cells at different PMI were determined by Methyl Green-Pyronin (MGP) stain combined with an image analysis technique.


RESULTS
The average DNA content in the thyroid follicular epithelial continued to decrease with increased PMI. The coefficient of determination for DNA content with average gray, aimed area, aimed area ratio and positive index in follicular epithelial cells were 0.960, 0.987, 0.988 and 0.990, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
There is an apparent correlation between the average DNA content of follicular epithelial cells and the PMI. MGP stain combined with an image analysis technique seems to be a useful means to study the degradation of DNA in thyroid follicular epithelial cells.
Ren
Guang-Mu
GM
School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China.
Jing
Cai-Liang
CL
Liu
Ji
J
Wang
Ya-Fang
YF
Wang
Ying-Yuan
YY
D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D004247:DNA