title: Analysis of Dextromethorphan and Dextrorphan in Skeletal Remains Following Decomposition in Different Microclimate Conditions.
abstract: The effects of decomposition microclimate on the distribution of dextromethorphan (DXM) and dextrorphan (DXT) in skeletonized remains of rats acutely exposed to DXM were examined. Animals (n = 10) received DXM (75 mg/kg, i.p.), were euthanized 30 min post-dose and immediately allowed to decompose at either Site A (shaded forest microenvironment on a grass-covered soil substrate) or Site B (rocky substrate exposed to direct sunlight, 600 m from Site A). Ambient temperature and relative humidity were automatically recorded 3 cm above rats at each site. Skeletal elements (vertebral columns, ribs, pelvic girdles, femora, tibiae, humeri and scapulae) were harvested, and analyzed using microwave assisted extraction, microplate solid phase extraction, and GC/MS. Drug levels, expressed as mass-normalized response ratios, and the ratios of DXT and DXM levels were compared across bones and between microclimate sites. No significant differences in DXT levels or metabolite/parent ratios were observed between sites or across bones. Only femoral DXM levels differed significantly between microclimate sites. For pooled data, microclimate was not observed to significantly affect analyte levels, nor the ratio of levels of DXT and DXM. These data suggest that microclimate conditions do not influence DXM and metabolite distribution in skeletal remains.
authors: Department of Forensic Science, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3E 2C6.
authors: K A
authors: KA
authors: Unger
authors: Department of Forensic Science, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3E 2C6 jwatterson@laurentian.ca.
authors: J H
authors: JH
authors: Watterson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000071298:Body Remains / Q000737:chemistry*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry*; D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000032:analysis*; D003917:Dextrorphan / Q000032:analysis*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008297:Male; D008834:Microclimate; D008872:Microwaves; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction
chemical_list: D003917:Dextrorphan; D003915:Dextromethorphan