Study On The Correlation Between The Postmortem Interval And The Average ATP, DNA And Actin Content Of Skeletal Muscle And Liver Of Rats

Objective: To probe the correlation between the postmortem interval (PMI) and the ATP, DNA content of skeletal muscle and liver and the actin content of skeletal muscle of rats after death,and the possible difference of ATP, DNA degradation and the effects of environmental temperature on the three factors,for some new methods by which PMI can be estimated more accurately.Methods: The ATP biolum inescence assay was used to measure the ATP degradation under different temperature (high temperature group,30 to 35°C;middle temperature group, 15 to 20 °C;low temperature group,5 to 10°C) in course of 0 to 24 hours after death.On the other hand, the image cytometry was used to measure the DNA and actin degradation under above temperatures in course of 0 to 96 hours after death.Results: (i)The ATP degradation was apparently from the instant and it was completely in course of 2 to 6 hours after death.The speed of degradation was different for two tissues and different temperature. Statistically:There was a significant negative correlativity between the ATP content and postmortem interval from 0 to 24 hours after death.The correlation Coefficients of two tissues was -1.000(P<0.000) all and it were gained relevant cubic equations. (ii)There was a plateau period for the DNA and actin degradation.It was long in lower temperature group and after it, the degradation was speed up.Statistically:There was a significant negative correlativity between the average DNA and actin content and postmortem interval from 0 to 96 hours after death. The former,the correlation Coefficients of skeletal muscle were -0.993 , -0.971, -0.985 (P=0.000) and those of liver were -0.996, -0.988, -0.989 (.P=0.000) from the low temperature group to the high temperature group.The latter,they were -0.971, -0.986, -0.982 (P=0.000) relevantly.It were obstained relevant cubic equations too.In three different temperature groups,a relevant multiple linear regression between ATP, DNA,actin and PMI was analyzed, and three multiple regressive equations were obtained with...