Estimation of time of death by quantification of melatonin in corpses

Mikami, H; Terazawa, Koichi; Takatori, Takehiko; Tokudome, Shogo; Tsukamoto, Takamasa; Haga, Kazunori

doi:10.1007/bf01247274

Cited by 27 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(38 reference statements)

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“…This conclusion was strengthened by the highly significant correlations found for measured against normalized values for both hormones. In our hands, melatonin concentrations from blood samples did not decrease significantly with sample storage time of 4 weeks after normalization, which is in line with previous data on post-mortem melatonin degradation [7]. Interestingly, there was no remarkable difference observed between the sample set kept in the dark and the one kept near the window, suggesting that, at least under these experimental conditions, photodegradation of melatonin is negligible [20].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…We employed commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) easily applicable in forensic laboratories. To our knowledge, this is the first study exemplifying that deposition time of forensic traces can be estimated by means of circadian biomarkers, although the use of melatonin for time of death estimation has been described before [6, 7]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Estimating trace deposition time with circadian biomarkers: a prospective and versatile tool for crime scene reconstruction

2010

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Linking biological samples found at a crime scene with the actual crime event represents the most important aspect of forensic investigation, together with the identification of the sample donor. While DNA profiling is well established for donor identification, no reliable methods exist for timing forensic samples. Here, we provide for the first time a biochemical approach for determining deposition time of human traces. Using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays we showed that the characteristic 24-h profiles of two circadian hormones, melatonin (concentration peak at late night) and cortisol (peak in the morning) can be reproduced from small samples of whole blood and saliva. We further demonstrated by analyzing small stains dried and stored up to 4 weeks the in vitro stability of melatonin, whereas for cortisol a statistically significant decay with storage time was observed, although the hormone was still reliably detectable in 4-week-old samples. Finally, we showed that the total protein concentration, also assessed using a commercial assay, can be used for normalization of hormone signals in blood, but less so in saliva. Our data thus demonstrate that estimating normalized concentrations of melatonin and cortisol represents a prospective approach for determining deposition time of biological trace samples, at least from blood, with promising expectations for forensic applications. In the broader context, our study opens up a new field of circadian biomarkers for deposition timing of forensic traces; future studies using other circadian biomarkers may reveal if the time range offered by the two hormones studied here can be specified more exactly.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00414-010-0457-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating trace deposition time with circadian biomarkers: a prospective and versatile tool for crime scene reconstruction

2010

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“…A method for estimating the time of death based on the amount of melatonin in pineal body, serum, and urine was reported [29]. It is well-known that the amount of melatonin shows a significant circadian rhythm and is high in nighttime and low in daytime in pineal body, serum, and urine.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating time of death based on the biological clock

et al. 2010

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The biological clock may stop at the time of death in a dead body. Therefore, the biological clock seems useful for estimating the time of death. In this study, we tried to read the biological clock in tissues from dead bodies to estimate the time of death using molecular biological techniques. At first, we examined real-time RT-PCR analysis of gene expression for mPer2 and mBmal1, which constitutes a feedback loop in the oscillation system, in the kidney, liver, and heart of mice. We could detect circadian oscillation of these gene expressions in mouse tissues even at <48 h after death. Thus, the ratio of mPer2/mBmal1 was found to be useful for estimating the time of death. We next applied this method to the liver, kidney, and heart obtained from forensic autopsy cases with less than 72 h of postmortem interval. Significant circadian oscillation of hPer2/hBmal1 ratio could be detected in these autopsy samples. We further examined gene expression for hRev-Erbα, a component of another feedback loop. The ratios of hRev-Erbα/hBmal1 showed higher amplitude of oscillation than those of hPer2/hBmal1 and are considered more suitable for estimating the time of death. In particular, a hRev/hBmal1 ratio of >50 indicated the time of death as 0200-0900 hours, and a hRev/hBmal1 ratio that considerably exceeded 75 indicated the time of death as 0200-0800 hours. On the other hand, a hRev/hBmal1 ratio of less than 25 strongly indicated the time of death as 1000-2300 hours. Taken together, these findings indicate that gene expression analyses of the biological clock could be powerful methods for estimation of the time of death.

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“…Choline acetyltransferase and glutamate decarboxylase show circadian fluctuations in human subjects (Perry et al 1977), so the time of day at which death occurs may be pertinent (Lausson et al 1989). Circannual fluctuations in serotonin, noradrenaline, and melatonin concentrations have been reported (Carlsson et al 1980;Bucht et al 1981;Oxenkrug et al 1990;Persinger 1993;Mikami et al 1994). A record of the date and time of death should be kept for each subject.…”

Section: Circadian and Circannual Rhythmsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochemical and molecular studies using human autopsy brain tissue

Hynd

Lewohl

Scott

et al. 2003

Journal of Neurochemistry

221

171

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The use of human brain tissue obtained at autopsy for neurochemical, pharmacological and physiological analyses is reviewed. RNA and protein samples have been found suitable for expression profiling by techniques that include RT-PCR, cDNA microarrays, western blotting, immunohistochemistry and proteomics. The rapid development of molecular biological techniques has increased the impetus for this work to be applied to studies of brain disease. It has been shown that most nucleic acids and proteins are reasonably stable postmortem. However, their abundance and integrity can exhibit marked intra-and intercase variability, making comparisons between case-groups difficult. Variability can reveal important functional and biochemical information. The correct interpretation of neurochemical data must take into account such factors as age, gender, ethnicity, medicative history, immediate ante-mortem status, agonal state and post-mortem and post-autopsy intervals. Here we consider issues associated with the sampling of DNA, RNA and proteins using human autopsy brain tissue in relation to various ante-and postmortem factors. We conclude that valid and practical measures of a variety of parameters may be made in human brain tissue, provided that specific factors are controlled.

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Estimation of time of death by quantification of melatonin in corpses

Cited by 27 publications

References 36 publications

Estimating trace deposition time with circadian biomarkers: a prospective and versatile tool for crime scene reconstruction

Estimating trace deposition time with circadian biomarkers: a prospective and versatile tool for crime scene reconstruction

Estimating time of death based on the biological clock

Biochemical and molecular studies using human autopsy brain tissue

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