Determination of Adenosine Phosphates in Rat Gastrocnemius at Various Postmortem Intervals Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography

• NCJ Number: 232590
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 55 Issue: 5 Dated: September 2010 Pages: 1362-1366
• Author(s): Hong Huang, Ph.D.; Youyi Yan; Zhong Zuo, Ph.D.; Lin Yang, M.Sc.; Bin Li, Ph.D.; Yu Song, M.Sc.; Linchuan Liao, Ph.D.
• Date Published: September 2010
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined levels of adenosine phospates in rat gastrocnemius.

Abstract

Although the change in adenosine phosphate levels in muscles may contribute to the development of rigor mortis, the relationship between their levels and the onset and development of rigor mortis has not been well elucidated. In the current study, levels of the adenosine phosphates including adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) in gastrocnemius at various postmortem intervals of 180 rats from different death modes were detected by high performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that the levels of ATP and ADP significantly decreased along with the postmortem period of rats from different death mode whereas the AMP level remained the same. In addition, it was found that changes in the ATP levels in muscles after death correlated well with the development of rigor mortis. Therefore, the ATP level could serve as a reference parameter for the deduction of rigor mortis in forensic science. (Published Abstract)