title: [The correlation between the DNA content in human thyroid follicular epithelial cells and the postmortem interval].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China.
authors.forename: Guang-Mu
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Cai-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ya-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ying-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D004247:DNA