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Central monoamines and the death process time (antemortem time) during asphyxia

An experimental study in the mouse brain

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Summary

The changes of the brain monoamines, norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and serotonin (5-HT), during acute asphyxia, caused by strangulation, anoxia, and drowning, were studied in the mouse.

In several asphyxiated animal groups significant linear correlation was found between the level of monoamines, NE, DA, and 5-HT, and the death process times or antemortem times were r=0.50, 0.98 (P<0.05), and 0.57, respectively.

It is concluded that the level of brain NE and DA increased in the mouse that died of asphyxia, and the level of 5-HT showed only an apparent decrease in anoxia groups as compared with the control group and showed a twice as high increase in drowning groups. Especially, there was a tendency that the longer the death process times or antemortem times, the higher was the level of DA.

Zusammenfassung

Die Konzentrationsänderung der Monoamine Norepinephrin (NE), Dopamin (DA) und Serotonin (5-HT) im Gehirn wurde während der akuten Asphyxie (Strangulation, Anoxie und Ertrinken) experimentell an Mäusen untersucht. In verschiedenen Versuchsgruppen wurde eine signifikante, lineare Abhängigkeit der Monoamin-Werte NE, DA, und 5-HT zur Länge des agonalen Stadiums beobachtet, wobei folgende Korrelationskoeffizienten errechnet wurden: r=0,50, 0,98, (P<0,05) und 0,57.

Hieraus wird geschlossen, daß die Konzentration des NE und 5-HT im Gehirn bei den asphyktischen Tieren zunimmt, die das 5-HT bei den Tieren unter Anoxie abfällt, hingegen einen etwa zweifachen Anstieg bei den Tieren aufweist, die ertranken. Darüber hinaus ließ sich eine Tendenz zu höheren DA-Werten feststellen, die in Abhängigkeit zur Länge der agonalen Phase steht.

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Yoshimoto, K., Irizawa, Y., Itoh, N. et al. Central monoamines and the death process time (antemortem time) during asphyxia. Z Rechtsmed 93, 211–218 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00200452

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00200452

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