title: The temporal fate of drugs in decomposing porcine tissue.
abstract: Drug levels in decomposed individuals are difficult to interpret. Concentrations of 16 drugs were monitored in tissues (blood, brain, liver, kidney, muscle, and soil) from decomposing pigs for 1 week. Pigs were divided into groups (n = 5) with each group receiving four drugs. Drug cocktails were prepared from pharmaceutical formulations. Intracardiac pentobarbital sacrifice was 4 h after dosing, with tissue collection at 4, 24, 48, 96, and 168 h postdosing. Samples were frozen until assay. Detection and quantitation of drugs were through solid phase extraction followed by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer analysis. Brain and kidneys were not available after 48 h; liver and muscle persisted for 1 week. Concentration of drugs increased during decomposition. During 1 week of decomposition, muscle showed average levels increasing but concentrations in liver were increased many fold, compared to muscle. Attempting to interpret drug levels in decomposed bodies may lead to incorrect conclusions about cause and manner of death.
authors: Franklin County Coroner's Office, 520 King Ave, Columbus, OH 43201, USA. jfwyman@cuyahogacounty.us
authors: John F
authors: JF
authors: Wyman
authors: Dorothy E
authors: DE
authors: Dean
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Yinger
authors: Amber
authors: A
authors: Simmons
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Brobst
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Bissell
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Silveira
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Kelly
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Shott
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Ohr
authors: Rick
authors: R
authors: Howard
authors: Bradley
authors: B
authors: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis*; D010599:Pharmacokinetics; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D012987:Soil