title: Detection of amitriptyline, citalopram, and metabolites in porcine bones following extended outdoor decomposition.
abstract: Skeletal remains of a domestic pig were assessed for relative distribution of amitriptyline, citalopram, and metabolites. Following acute exposure and outdoor decomposition for 2 years, drugs and metabolites were analyzed in 13 different bones. Bones were pulverized following a simple wash procedure, and drugs were extracted by passive incubation in methanol, followed by solid-phase extraction. Samples were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and confirmed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The Kruskall-Wallis test showed that bone type was a main effect with respect to drug level for all analytes, with levels varying from 33- to 166-fold. Ratios of levels of drug to that of the corresponding metabolite were less variable, varying roughly one- to eightfold. This suggests limitations in the interpretive value of drug measurements in bone and that relative levels of drug and metabolites should be further investigated in terms of forensic value.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Toxicology Research Laboratory, Department of Forensic Science, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Nathalie A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Desrosiers
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Watterson
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wyman
mesh_terms: D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D015283:Citalopram / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004777:Environment; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015283:Citalopram; D000639:Amitriptyline; C046304:desmethylcitalopram; D009661:Nortriptyline