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Investigating the Postmortem Molecular Biology of Cartilage and its Potential Forensic Applications
Author(s) -
Bolton Shaw.,
Whitehead Michael P.,
Dudhia Jayesh,
Baldwin Timothy C.,
Sutton Raul
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12764
Subject(s) - aggrecan , cartilage , forensic pathology , forensic science , medicine , western blot , pathology , biology , articular cartilage , anatomy , autopsy , veterinary medicine , osteoarthritis , genetics , alternative medicine , gene
This study investigated the postmortem molecular changes that articular cartilage undergoes following burial. Fresh pig trotters were interred in 30‐cm‐deep graves at two distinct locations exhibiting dissimilar soil environments for up to 42 days. Extracts of the metacarpophalangeal ( MCP ) and metatarsophalangeal ( MTP ) joint cartilage from trotters disinterred weekly over 6 weeks were analyzed by Western blot against the monoclonal antibody 2‐B‐6 to assess aggrecan degradation. In both soil conditions, aggrecan degradation by‐products of decreasing molecular size and complexity were observed up to 21 days postmortem. Degradation products were undetected after this time and coincided with MCP / MTP joint exposure to the soil environment. These results show that cartilage proteoglycans undergo an ordered molecular breakdown, the analysis of which may have forensic applications. This model may prove useful for use as a human model and for forensic investigations concerning crimes against animals and the mortality of endangered species.