Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship between the DNA degradation in cells and postmortem interval. Methods Tissue pieces of the heart, liver, spleen and kidney of one corpse (male, 54 years old, died of mechanical injury, PMI of 6h) were obtained in 6, 12, 24, 48 h after death, fixed in Carnoy fluid, and then paraffin sections were prepared, stained with Feulgen and analyzed by Image analysis technology (IAT). Meanwhile the single-cell suspension of tissues of the man was prepared and inspected by FCM after PI stained. Results The amount of DNA of in heart, liver and kidney of human had a repid degraded in first 6 hours after death, that in the spleen showed a better relationship between DNA degradation and PMI. The results was verified by FCM and IAT. Conclusion The degradation of DNA of and human tissues shows a well relationship with PMI, especially in spleen. It is useful in estimation of PMI.

Key words: postmortem interval, DNA degradation, flow cytometry, image analysis technology