Plasma and Urine Catecholamines and Cerebrospinal Fluid Amine Metabolites as Hypothermia Markers in Guinea-Pigs

Abstract

Changes in catecholamines (CA) in the plasma and urine and metabolites of CA and serotonin (5-HT) in the cerebrospinal fluid of guinea-pigs in hypothermia (Trec 30 degrees C) and after subsequent rewarming were determined with HPLC in order to obtain data on early stress reactions and their timing. Both noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (A) were low in the plasma but high in the urine after the hypothermic period. These had normalized in the plasma after rewarming but were still high in the urine. Dopamine values tended to be low (not significant). Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol and homovanilic acid were elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid both after hypothermia and following rewarming, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid after rewarming. The ratio of adrenaline to noradrenaline, the catecholamine hypothermia index, in the urine had risen 24-fold after hypothermia and 40-fold after rewarming. The results support the view that elevated catecholamine concentrations in the urine and elevated values of their metabolites in the cerebrospinal fluid could be regarded as hypothermia markers. However, other stress conditions, which have lasted at least a few hours, should be excluded in the final interpretation.

Postmortem determination of concentrations of stress hormones in various body fluids—is there a dependency between adrenaline/noradrenaline quotient, cause of death and agony time?

“…The increase of catecholamines in long agony shown by Hirvonen and Huttunen [8], Hirvonen and Lapinalampi [11], and Hirvonen and Huttunen [9] could not be confirmed with the results of this study. In addition, quantitative dominance of catecholamines in asphyxia or hanging could not be reproduced.…”

“…Hirvonen and Lapinalampi [11] investigated noradrenaline and adrenaline in urine and liquor in guinea pigs after controlled hypothermia and rewarming. They found a strong increase of both catecholamines in urine, as well as their metabolites in liquor.…”

“…Hirvonen and Huttunen [8], Hirvonen and Lapinalampi [11], and Hirvonen and Huttunen [9] conducted different trials about postmortem noradrenaline and adrenaline determination in guinea pigs, rats and human corpses. They were primarily looking for chemical laboratory indicators to show that hypothermia had taken place.…”

DNA Microarray Analysis of the Mouse Adrenal Gland for the Detection of Hypothermia Biomarkers: Potential Usefulness for Forensic Investigation

“…In addition, studies have been carried out concerning adrenal hormones in hypothermia. It was demonstrated that plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline values were significantly lower in the hypothermia group than in the control group (Hirvonen and Lapinlampi, 1989). This reaction might be due to cold stress, causing noradrenaline and adrenaline to appear in the blood and urine in the (Hirvonen and Huttunen, 1995;Saukko and Knight, 2004).…”

“…Therefore, diagnosis must be based partly on exclusion and by relying on historical information, and it is thought that molecular biological analyses could provide more valuable information (Hirvonen and Huttunen, 1982). Some hormonal changes of the adrenal gland were reported in hypothermia (Hirvonen and Lapinlampi, 1989;Hirvonen and Huttunen, 1995), and we considered it worthwhile to analyze the transcriptome. In this study, the transcriptome of the adrenal gland in hypothermia was analyzed, to evaluate its utility for the diagnosis of hypothermia.…”