Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2025

A Rat Model of Central Fatigue Using a Modified Multiple Platform Method

A Rat Model of Central Fatigue Using a Modified Multiple Platform Method

Published on: August 14, 2018

Effect of humidity on postmortem changes in rats.

Seroc Oh¹, Byeongwoo Ahn¹, Beom Jun Lee¹

¹College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea.

Journal of Veterinary Science

|June 4, 2024

Summary

Relative humidity significantly impacts autolysis, a key process in estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) for animal deaths. Lower humidity accelerates autolysis, aiding more accurate PMI determination in veterinary forensics.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Exploring preventive factors against insufficient antibody positivity rate for foot-and-mouth disease in pig farms in South Korea: a preliminary ecological study.

Journal of veterinary science·2024

Same author

N-methylformamide induces multiple organ toxicity in Fischer 344 rats.

Toxicological research·2023

Same author

Comparative study on the effects of micro- and nano-sized zinc oxide supplementation on zinc-deficient mice.

Journal of veterinary science·2022

Same author

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate suppresses hemin-aggravated colon carcinogenesis through Nrf2-inhibited mitochondrial reactive oxygen species accumulation.

Journal of veterinary science·2022

Same author

Protection of Lycopene against Embryonic Anomalies and Yolk Sac Placental Vasculogenic Disorders Induced by Nicotine Exposure.

BioMed research international·2020

Same author

Enhanced Protective Effects of Combined Treatment with <i>β</i>-Carotene and Curcumin against Hyperthermic Spermatogenic Disorders in Mice.

BioMed research international·2017

Area of Science:

Veterinary Forensic Science
Histopathology
Postmortem Interval Estimation

Background:

Accurate postmortem interval (PMI) determination is vital in veterinary forensics.
Autolysis, a postmortem process, affects PMI estimation, but its relationship with environmental humidity is poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the influence of varying relative humidity levels on the autolytic process in rat organs.
To enhance the accuracy of PMI estimation in veterinary forensic cases by understanding humidity's role in autolysis.

Main Methods:

Histopathological examination of heart, liver, and pancreas from 38 male rats.
Exposure of tissue samples to controlled humidity levels (20%, 55%, 80%) at 22°C.
Sample collection at multiple time points (0 h to 8 days) for analysis.

Keywords:

Veterinary forensic science autolysis postmortem interval relative humidity

More Related Videos

Establishment of Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest in Rats

Establishment of Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest in Rats

Published on: December 16, 2022

Whole Animal Perfusion Fixation for Rodents

Whole Animal Perfusion Fixation for Rodents

Published on: July 30, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 24, 2025

A Rat Model of Central Fatigue Using a Modified Multiple Platform Method

A Rat Model of Central Fatigue Using a Modified Multiple Platform Method

Published on: August 14, 2018

Establishment of Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest in Rats

Establishment of Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest in Rats

Published on: December 16, 2022

Whole Animal Perfusion Fixation for Rodents

Whole Animal Perfusion Fixation for Rodents

Published on: July 30, 2012

Main Results:

Distinct autolytic patterns observed across different humidity conditions.
Low humidity accelerated autolysis, causing nuclear pyknosis, cytoplasmic disintegration, and myofiber interruption.
Specific organ changes included liver triad aggregation, pancreas cell fragmentation, and cardiac striation loss under varying humidity.

Conclusions:

A clear correlation between autolytic progression and relative humidity was established.
Findings provide a basis for developing more precise and predictable PMI estimation methods in veterinary forensics.
Understanding humidity's effect on autolysis is crucial for accurate forensic case analysis.