Ritz-Timme S, Laumeier I, Collins M
Institut für Rechtsmedizin der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Strasse 12, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
Int J Legal Med. 2003 Apr;117(2):96-101. doi: 10.1007/s00414-002-0355-2. Epub 2003 Feb 28.
The yellow ligaments of the spine are characterized by an exceptionally high content of elastin, a protein with a proved longevity in several human tissues. This unique biochemical composition suggested a suitability of yellow ligaments for age estimation based on aspartic acid racemization (AAR), which was tested by determination of AAR in total tissue specimens and in purified elastin from yellow ligaments of individuals of known age. AAR was found to increase with age in both sample sets. The purified elastin samples exhibited a much faster kinetics than the total tissue, with ca. 3.7-4.6-fold higher apparent rates. The relationship between AAR and age was much closer in the purified elastin samples ( r=0.96-0.99) and it can therefore be used as a basis for biochemical age estimation. The analysis of total tissue samples cannot be recommended since the AAR values can be strongly influenced even by slight, histologically non-detectable variations in the collagen content. Age estimation based on AAR in purified elastin from yellow ligaments may be a valuable additional tool in the identification of unidentified cadavers, especially in cases where other methods cannot be applied (e.g. no available teeth, body parts).
脊柱的黄韧带具有弹性蛋白含量极高的特点，弹性蛋白是一种在多种人体组织中已被证实具有较长寿命的蛋白质。这种独特的生化组成表明，基于天冬氨酸消旋化（AAR）对黄韧带进行年龄估计是可行的，为此对已知年龄个体的黄韧带全组织标本和纯化弹性蛋白中的AAR进行了测定以作验证。在两个样本组中均发现AAR随年龄增长而增加。纯化弹性蛋白样本的动力学比全组织快得多，表观速率约高3.7 - 4.6倍。纯化弹性蛋白样本中AAR与年龄的关系更为密切（r = 0.96 - 0.99），因此可作为生化年龄估计的基础。不建议对全组织样本进行分析，因为即使胶原蛋白含量有轻微的、组织学上无法检测到的变化，也会对AAR值产生强烈影响。基于黄韧带纯化弹性蛋白中AAR的年龄估计可能是识别身份不明尸体的一种有价值的辅助工具，特别是在无法应用其他方法的情况下（如没有可用牙齿、身体部位）。
