title: Molecular pathology of natriuretic peptides in the myocardium with special regard to fatal intoxication, hypothermia, and hyperthermia.
abstract: The present study investigated the molecular pathology of atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP and BNP) in the myocardium to evaluate terminal cardiac function in routine forensic casework with particular regard to fatal drug intoxication (n = 18; sedative-hypnotics, n = 10; methamphetamine, n = 8), hypothermia (cold exposure, n = 13), and hyperthermia (heatstroke, n = 10), compared with that in acute ischemic heart disease (AIHD, n = 35) and congestive heart disease (CHD, n = 11) as controls (total n = 87; within 48 h postmortem). Quantitative analyses of myocardial ANP and BNP messenger RNA demonstrated that their expressions in bilateral atrial and ventricular walls were high in methamphetamine intoxication and hypothermia, comparable to those in AIHD and CHD, but were low in sedative-hypnotic intoxication and hyperthermia. In pericardial fluid, both ANP and BNP levels were increased in hypothermia, while CHD cases had an elevated BNP level, and ANP level showed a tendency to increase in hyperthermia; however, immunohistochemistry showed no evident differences in myocardial ANP and BNP among the causes of death. These findings suggest terminal high cardiac strain in methamphetamine intoxication, decreased cardiac strain in sedative-hypnotic intoxication and hyperthermia (heatstroke), and persistent congestion in hypothermia (cold exposure).
authors: Department of Legal Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, Asahi-machi 1-4-3, Abeno, Osaka, 545-8585, Japan.
authors: Jian-Hua
authors: JH
authors: Chen
authors: Tomomi
authors: T
authors: Michiue
authors: Takaki
authors: T
authors: Ishikawa
authors: Hitoshi
authors: H
authors: Maeda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D018883:Heat Stroke / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000506:poisoning*; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000506:poisoning*; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000506:poisoning*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000235:genetics*; D057089:Pathology, Molecular / Q000379:methods*; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D011041:Poisoning / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D008694:Methamphetamine; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase