Decoding Time of Death: Histopathological Dynamics of Intervertebral Discs as a Novel Marker for Postmortem Interval Estimation
<b>Objectives</b>: Determination of the postmortem interval (PMI) remains a critical challenge in forensic science. Intervertebral discs, due to their structural resilience, hold promise as a reliable tissue for PMI estimation; however, studies focusing on their forensic applicability re...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Selcuk Cetin Tugba Ataseven Ilkay Kalkanli Bulent Eren |
| author_facet | Selcuk Cetin Tugba Ataseven Ilkay Kalkanli Bulent Eren |
| author_sort | Selcuk Cetin |
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| description | <b>Objectives</b>: Determination of the postmortem interval (PMI) remains a critical challenge in forensic science. Intervertebral discs, due to their structural resilience, hold promise as a reliable tissue for PMI estimation; however, studies focusing on their forensic applicability remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate progressive histopathological changes in intervertebral discs at specific postmortem intervals and assess their forensic applicability. <b>Materials and Methods</b>: A total of 48 rats were divided into six groups: control (0 h), 7-day, 15-day, 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day postmortem intervals. Intervertebral disc samples were stained with hematoxylin–eosin and trichrome, and histopathological parameters such as homogenization, eosinophilia, dissociation, nuclear alterations (pyknosis and karyolysis), and collagen fragmentation were analyzed. <b>Results</b>: Statistically significant changes were observed across postmortem intervals (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Homogenization progressed from mild changes at 7 days to prominent levels by 90 days. Eosinophilia and dissociation between the epithelium and connective tissue also increased significantly over time (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Collagen fragmentation, initially minimal, became severe at the 90-day interval. The observed changes demonstrated a clear, time-dependent progression strongly correlating with the PMI. <b>Conclusions</b>: Our findings suggest that histopathological changes in intervertebral discs follow a consistent and time-dependent pattern, making them a potential forensic marker for PMI estimation. This has important implications for forensic science, as it offers an alternative tissue type that is less susceptible to early decomposition compared to soft tissues. These results suggest that the intervertebral disc is a promising tissue for PMI estimation, offering a complementary approach to existing forensic methods. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ba8cbd44e7b34fd281feda16f5dce08e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-4418 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Diagnostics |
| spelling | doaj-art-ba8cbd44e7b34fd281feda16f5dce08e2025-08-20T02:52:35ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182025-03-0115560510.3390/diagnostics15050605Decoding Time of Death: Histopathological Dynamics of Intervertebral Discs as a Novel Marker for Postmortem Interval EstimationSelcuk Cetin0Tugba Ataseven1Ilkay Kalkanli2Bulent Eren3Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University, 60100 Tokat, TürkiyeDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Tokat City Hospital, 60100 Tokat, TürkiyeDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir Bakircay University, 35665 Izmir, TürkiyeDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kırklareli University, 39100 Kırklareli, Türkiye<b>Objectives</b>: Determination of the postmortem interval (PMI) remains a critical challenge in forensic science. Intervertebral discs, due to their structural resilience, hold promise as a reliable tissue for PMI estimation; however, studies focusing on their forensic applicability remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate progressive histopathological changes in intervertebral discs at specific postmortem intervals and assess their forensic applicability. <b>Materials and Methods</b>: A total of 48 rats were divided into six groups: control (0 h), 7-day, 15-day, 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day postmortem intervals. Intervertebral disc samples were stained with hematoxylin–eosin and trichrome, and histopathological parameters such as homogenization, eosinophilia, dissociation, nuclear alterations (pyknosis and karyolysis), and collagen fragmentation were analyzed. <b>Results</b>: Statistically significant changes were observed across postmortem intervals (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Homogenization progressed from mild changes at 7 days to prominent levels by 90 days. Eosinophilia and dissociation between the epithelium and connective tissue also increased significantly over time (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Collagen fragmentation, initially minimal, became severe at the 90-day interval. The observed changes demonstrated a clear, time-dependent progression strongly correlating with the PMI. <b>Conclusions</b>: Our findings suggest that histopathological changes in intervertebral discs follow a consistent and time-dependent pattern, making them a potential forensic marker for PMI estimation. This has important implications for forensic science, as it offers an alternative tissue type that is less susceptible to early decomposition compared to soft tissues. These results suggest that the intervertebral disc is a promising tissue for PMI estimation, offering a complementary approach to existing forensic methods.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/5/605postmortem intervalintervertebral discshistopathologycollagen fragmentationforensic medicineexperimental study |
| spellingShingle | Selcuk Cetin Tugba Ataseven Ilkay Kalkanli Bulent Eren Decoding Time of Death: Histopathological Dynamics of Intervertebral Discs as a Novel Marker for Postmortem Interval Estimation Diagnostics postmortem interval intervertebral discs histopathology collagen fragmentation forensic medicine experimental study |
| title | Decoding Time of Death: Histopathological Dynamics of Intervertebral Discs as a Novel Marker for Postmortem Interval Estimation |
| title_full | Decoding Time of Death: Histopathological Dynamics of Intervertebral Discs as a Novel Marker for Postmortem Interval Estimation |
| title_fullStr | Decoding Time of Death: Histopathological Dynamics of Intervertebral Discs as a Novel Marker for Postmortem Interval Estimation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Decoding Time of Death: Histopathological Dynamics of Intervertebral Discs as a Novel Marker for Postmortem Interval Estimation |
| title_short | Decoding Time of Death: Histopathological Dynamics of Intervertebral Discs as a Novel Marker for Postmortem Interval Estimation |
| title_sort | decoding time of death histopathological dynamics of intervertebral discs as a novel marker for postmortem interval estimation |
| topic | postmortem interval intervertebral discs histopathology collagen fragmentation forensic medicine experimental study |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/5/605 |
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