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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Determining Genome-wide Transcript Decay Rates in Proliferating and Quiescent Human Fibroblasts
Published on: January 2, 2018
[The research of relationship between DNA degradation and postmortem interval]
Xin Chen1, Yi-wen Shen, Yun-ju Gu
1Shanghai Institute of Criminal Science & Technology, Shanghai 200083, China. ch-sir@hotmail.com
Objective:
To investigate the relationship between the DNA degradation in cells and postmortem interval.
Methods:
Tissue pieces of the heart, liver, spleen and kidney of one corpse (male, 54 years old, died of mechanical injury, PMI of 6h) were obtained in 6, 12, 24, 48 h after death, fixed in Carnoy fluid, and then paraffin sections were prepared, stained with Feulgen and analyzed by Image analysis technology (IAT). Meanwhile the single-cell suspension of tissues of the man was prepared and inspected by FCM after PI stained.
Results:
The amount of DNA of in heart, liver and kidney of human had a repid degraded in first 6 hours after death, that in the spleen showed a better relationship between DNA degradation and PMI. The results was verified by FCM and IAT.
Conclusion:
The degradation of DNA of and human tissues shows a well relationship with PMI, especially in spleen. It is useful in estimation of PMI.
