title: Time- and temperature-dependent changes in cytochrome c oxidase activity and cyanide concentration in excised mice organs and mice cadavers.
abstract: Postmortem stability of cyanide biomarkers is often disputed. We assessed the time and temperature-dependent changes in cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) activity and cyanide concentration in various organs of mice succumbing to cyanide. Immediately after death, excised mice organs and mice cadavers were stored at room temperature (35°C ± 5°C) or in frozen storage (-20°C ± 2°C). At various times after death, CCO activity and cyanide concentrations were measured in excised mice organs or organs removed from mice cadavers. The study revealed that (i) measuring both the biomarkers in mice cadavers was more reliable compared to excised mice organs, (ii) measuring temporal CCO activity and cyanide concentration in vital organs from mice cadavers (room temperature) was reliable up to 24 h, and (iii) CCO activity in the brain and lungs and cyanide concentration in organs from mice cadavers (frozen) were measurable beyond 21 days. This study will be helpful in postmortem determination of cyanide poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Defense Research and Development Establishment, Gwalior, 474002, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Poonam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Shiv K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: Niranjan L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Gujar
authors.forename: Ravindra M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Satpute
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D003486:Cyanides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000506:poisoning*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism*; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009206:Myocardium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013154:Spleen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003486:Cyanides; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: cadavers; cyanide; cytochrome oxidase; excised organs; forensic science; markers; postmortem determination; storage time; temperature