title: Estimation of PMI depends on the changes in ATP and its degradation products.
abstract: Estimating the time since death, or postmortem interval (PMI), has been one of the biggest difficulties in modern forensic investigation. This study tests if the concentrations of breakdown products of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) correlate with PMI in multiple organs from rat. Brains, spleens, and kidneys of rats were harvested at different time points in carcasses maintained at 4°C or 20°C. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantify concentrations of metabolites related to ATP degradation. A K value (Kv=100×(Hx+HxR)/(ATP+ADP+AMP+IMP+HxR+Hx)) was calculated and correlated with PMI for each organ and temperature. The results indicate that the K value is a robust index for the estimation of PMI based on highly significant linear correlations between PMI and concentrations of ATP breakdown products. Compared with other current research methods, the changing tendency of ATP and its degradation products may be potentially a better way for the estimation of PMI in medico-legal practice.
authors: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai 200063, PR China.
authors: Shiwei
authors: S
authors: Mao
authors: Gaowen
authors: G
authors: Fu
authors: Ronald R
authors: RR
authors: Seese
authors: Zhen-Yuan
authors: ZY
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D049429:Forensic Pathology / Q000379:methods*; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry; D016014:Linear Models; D023421:Models, Animal; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013154:Spleen / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate
keywords: ATP; Degradation products; Forensic science; HPLC; K value; Postmortem interval