Quantification of Methamphetamine in Mouse Thighbones Buried in Soil

Area of Science:

• Forensic Toxicology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Postmortem Investigations

Background:

• Bone samples are crucial for drug analysis in decomposed or skeletonized remains.
• Toxicological analysis of buried bones aids in determining cause and circumstances of death.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify methamphetamine and amphetamine concentrations in various biological samples (heart blood, thigh muscle, thighbone).
• To compare drug concentrations between different tissues and between buried and unburied bone samples.
• To assess the stability and degradation of methamphetamine in buried thighbones over time.

Main Methods:

• Solid-phase extraction (SPE) for sample preparation.
• Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for drug quantification.
• Analysis of methamphetamine and amphetamine in heart blood, thigh muscle, and thighbone.

Main Results:

• Methamphetamine concentrations were significantly higher in thighbone (56.543–643.371 μg/g) compared to heart blood (0.041–0.873 μg/mL) and thigh muscle (0.649–2.623 μg/g).
• Concentrations of methamphetamine in buried thighbones (4.010–45.785 μg/g) were significantly lower than in unburied bones.
• Methamphetamine and amphetamine were detectable in thighbones buried for up to 180 days.

Conclusions:

• Thighbone is a valuable matrix for postmortem drug analysis, exhibiting higher drug concentrations than soft tissues.
• Methamphetamine concentrations in bone decrease after burial, indicating degradation or leaching in soil environments.
• These findings have implications for interpreting toxicological results from skeletonized or decomposed remains found in forensic investigations.