title: Levels of glutathione and some biogenic amines in the human brain putamen after traumatic death.
abstract: Mexico City is among the world's largest metropolitan city centers and one of the most difficult and challenging cities in which to drive a motor vehicle. During peak transit hours and maximum congestion, numerous accidents occur, many of them fatal. The aim of the study presented here was to analyze the levels of select indicators against oxidative stress and levels of biogenic amines as a consequence of accident or altercation and fear deaths. Eighteen cases were studied (sixteen males, two females). Subjects ranged from twelve to eighty-one years of age. Nine of the deaths studied were the result of motor vehicle or subway accidents. Eight of the eighteen deaths were the result of a violent altercation, while one of the deaths resulted from a drug overdose and cardiac arrest. Biopsies of cadaver putamen were homogenized and analyzed for Tryptophan (Trp), 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA), Dopamine (DA), and Glutathione (GSH) levels by fluorometric methods. Trp, 5-HIAA, DA, and GSH levels showed an increase in the subjects who's death was caused by violent altercation combined with fear, while DA levels showed significant differences in all accident groups. This data suggest that biogenic amines in cadaver putamen tissue, such as DA, can be telling biochemical markers, indicative of altercation and fear deaths.
authors: Laboratorio de Neuroquímica, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría (INP), México.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Calderón-Guzmán
authors: Norma
authors: N
authors: Osnaya-Brizuela
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: García-Alvarez
authors: Ernestina
authors: E
authors: Hernández García
authors: Adrián
authors: A
authors: Guillé Pérez
authors: Hugo
authors: H
authors: Juárez Olguín
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011699:Putamen / Q000378:metabolism*; D014754:Violence; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001679:Biogenic Amines; D015415:Biomarkers; D005978:Glutathione