Study on relationship between changes of DNA content in human spleen nuclei and the postmortem interval by image analysis / 中国法医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study changes of DNA content in human spleen nuclei and seek an experimental method for estimation of the postmortem interval(PMI)using computerized image-analysis technique(CIAT).Methods Smear sections from spleen sampled were collected in 36 cadavers with known the accurate PMI respectively every hour within the first 36 hours after death,which were then fixed with cold Carony fixation.The smeared sections were stained by Feulgen-van's staining method.3 indices for spleen nucleic DNA including integral optical density(IOD),average optical density(AOD)and average gray(AG)were measured using the CIAT.Results IOD and AOD in the spleen nuclei declined regularly,whereas AG increased with the extension of PMIs in 36 hours.Conclusion There are definite relationships between the PMI and gray parameters(IOD、AOD and AG)representing the DAN content of nucleic DNA in the spleen in 36 hours after death,which may be used for estimation of PMI.