Evaluation of the Post-Mortem Superoxide Dismutase, Glutathione Peroxidase Activities and Malondialdehyde Level in Renal and Brain Tissues: Is it Possible to Estimate Post-Mortem Interval Using these Parameters?

BACKGROUND

Estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) is one major area of interest in forensic medicine. We investigated changes of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in rat brain and renal tissues in the PMI and examined the potential changes which may be useful for an estimation of time of death.

METHODS

Forty albino female rats were used in this study. The rats were sacrificed and divided into five groups: Group 1: 0 hour, Group 2: 6 hours, Group 3: 12 hours, Group 4: 24 hours, and Group 5: 48 hours. The rats were housed at room temperature (22 degrees C ± 2 degrees C) for the defined period for each group, and their brains and kidneys were excised.

RESULTS

The postmortem MDA levels were significantly different between groups for both renal and brain tissues (p = 0.003; p = 0.007). The diagnostic adequacy of MDA was calculated. Regarding SOD and GSH-Px, we were not able to obtain any date that would be useful for the prediction of PMI.

CONCLUSIONS

According to this study, it is possible that an estimation of the PMI can be made using postmortem MDA levels. Regarding SOD and GSH-Px, we were not able to obtain any data that would be useful for the prediction of PMI.