Postmortem Interval Assessment: Correlating Histological Changes and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in Human Kidney Tissues


Authors : Sai Soumya Gadepally; Harish T. Kubhchandani; Dr. Rushikesh Joshi

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 11 - November


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/bdd4p3fd

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/yzj6bc2a

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25nov1060

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Abstract : In forensic medicine, estimating the post-mortem interval is crucial for forensic analysis. Thanato-chemistry, also known as the chemistry of death, is used for this purpose. The current study aims to correlate histological and enzymatic changes in kidney tissue samples at 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours postmortem. In human kidney samples, histological changes included alterations in renal tubular cells, obliteration of the tubular lumen, tubular necrosis, cytoplasmic architectural distortion, and distortions in the glomerular tufts. Alongside histological examination, UV spectroscopy was used to estimate enzyme levels, including catalase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase. When analysing histopathological changes from 12 to 96 hours, UV spectroscopy showed a significant decrease in antioxidant enzyme levels. The post-mortem morphological alterations were progressive, steady, and slow, indicating that PMI determination is essential. Between 48 and 96 hours postmortem, cellular features and components were observed to undergo necrosis. PMI may be estimated either independently or in combination with changes in the histological structure of tissues, reflecting the time elapsed after death, and from measurements of antioxidant enzyme levels in human kidney tissue samples using UV spectroscopy.

Keywords : Histology, Enzyme Analysis, Time Since Death, U V Spectroscopy.

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In forensic medicine, estimating the post-mortem interval is crucial for forensic analysis. Thanato-chemistry, also known as the chemistry of death, is used for this purpose. The current study aims to correlate histological and enzymatic changes in kidney tissue samples at 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours postmortem. In human kidney samples, histological changes included alterations in renal tubular cells, obliteration of the tubular lumen, tubular necrosis, cytoplasmic architectural distortion, and distortions in the glomerular tufts. Alongside histological examination, UV spectroscopy was used to estimate enzyme levels, including catalase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase. When analysing histopathological changes from 12 to 96 hours, UV spectroscopy showed a significant decrease in antioxidant enzyme levels. The post-mortem morphological alterations were progressive, steady, and slow, indicating that PMI determination is essential. Between 48 and 96 hours postmortem, cellular features and components were observed to undergo necrosis. PMI may be estimated either independently or in combination with changes in the histological structure of tissues, reflecting the time elapsed after death, and from measurements of antioxidant enzyme levels in human kidney tissue samples using UV spectroscopy.

Keywords : Histology, Enzyme Analysis, Time Since Death, U V Spectroscopy.

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30 - November - 2025

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