Drug Concentration in Selected Skeletal Muscles

Langford, Alan M.; Taylor, K. K.; Pounder, Derrick J.

doi:10.1520/jfs16084j

Cited by 39 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Therefore, iliopsoas muscle can be an interesting specimen when the usual samples for drug assay are lacking. However, muscle sampling is not recommended for some other substances (such as temazepam, prothiaden, paracetamol and amitriptyline) [16,17]. These studies did not include concentrations in iliopsoas muscle, however.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-mortem redistribution of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") in the rabbit

Letter

Belpaire²,

Clauwaert³

et al. 2002

Int J Legal Med

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Drug concentrations in autopsy samples can also be influenced by post-mortem gastric diffusion when the stomach contains a substantial amount of the drug or by diffusion from the trachea when agonal aspiration or post-mortem regurgitation of vomit occurs. This was studied in a rabbit animal model in which MDMA solutions were infused post mortem either in the trachea or in the stomach. At 24, 48 or 72 h post mortem, samples including cardiac blood, vitreous humour, urine, bile, gastric content and several tissues were taken for toxicological analysis. After post-mortem tracheal infusion, MDMA can easily diffuse not only into the lungs but also in great quantities into the cardiac blood and, to a lesser extent, into the cardiac muscle. MDMA was also found in the closely adjacent diaphragm and in the upper abdominal organs, including the liver and the stomach. Following post-mortem infusion into the stomach, considerable MDMA levels were found in cardiac blood and muscle, both lungs, diaphragm and liver tissue when the solution was concentrated nearby the lower oesophageal sphincter. However, when the MDMA solution was present deeper in the stomach, MDMA levels were high in the spleen and the liver and relatively low in cardiac blood and muscle. In both experiments, MDA levels in most tissues were low or below the limit of quantitation, but were substantial in cardiac blood and muscle, lungs and diaphragm, indicating that MDMA can be metabolised to MDA after death. These results in the rabbit model indicate that the diffusion of MDMA out of the stomach content, or due to aspirated vomit and gastro-oesophageal reflux can lead to considerable post-mortem redistribution and thus should be taken into account in current forensic practice in order to draw the right conclusions when a peripheral blood sample is not available.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-mortem redistribution of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") in the rabbit

Letter

Belpaire²,

Clauwaert³

et al. 2002

Int J Legal Med

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show abstract

“…Due to faster putrefaction of internal organs, muscle tissue is longer available for analysis than internal organs. However, the interpretation of drug concentrations is difficult due to postmortem distribution and degradation [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution of ethyl glucuronide in rib bone marrow, other tissues and body liquids as proof of alcohol consumption before death

Schloegl¹,

Rost²,

Schmidt³

et al. 2006

Forensic Science International

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“…Some researchers reported that drug level in skeletal muscle reflects that in blood [3][4][5], but others suggested that skeletal muscle is suitable only for qualitative analysis [6,7]. To our knowledge, there is little literature about tissue distributions of nicotine and cotinine in human autopsy cases of smokers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic implication of muscle level of nicotine in an adipocere body found in the sea

et al. 2009

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We reported previously that blood levels of nicotine in suicidal smokers tend to be significantly higher than those in non-suicidal smokers, and blood level of nicotine seems to be a useful criterion for discriminating suicide from other types of death. In this paper, we report nicotine and cotinine levels in various tissues of an adipocere body found in the sea.The cause of death was drowning, and the postmortem time interval was approximately 5 months at autopsy. His driver's license was concealed in his sock, which seemed to suggest that he committed to suicide. In toxicological analysis by gas chromatography, nicotine and cotinine in the femoral muscle were detected at concentrations of 213 and 488 ng/g, respectively, and these substances were also detected in the brain, liver and kidney. For evaluating the tissue levels of nicotine and cotinine in the adipocere body, we analyzed these levels in blood and various tissues of 13 autopsy cases of smokers. Nicotine and cotinine levels in blood were the most similar to those in skeletal muscle. Although the postmortem time interval, the formation process of adipocere and the environmental condition in water may affect nicotine and cotinine levels in the femoral muscle, the high muscle level of nicotine in the present case seem to implicate suicidal death.

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Drug Concentration in Selected Skeletal Muscles

Cited by 39 publications

References 13 publications

Post-mortem redistribution of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") in the rabbit

Post-mortem redistribution of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") in the rabbit

Distribution of ethyl glucuronide in rib bone marrow, other tissues and body liquids as proof of alcohol consumption before death

Forensic implication of muscle level of nicotine in an adipocere body found in the sea

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