Comparison of anions (bicarbonate and chloride) concentration in caprine and porcine vitreous humour at post mortem interval

Abstract

Identification of various medical conditions in post mortem and estimation of time of death is often difficult. Results from analysis of post mortem blood and urine samples are not as appropriate as in living subjects, due to bacterial contamination and post mortem cell degradation. Vitreous  fluid shows relatively stable conditions after death, making it a better matrix for post mortem biochemical analysis than blood sample and serum.  The purpose of this study is to compare the concentration of anions (bicarbonate and chloride) in the vitreous fluid at various post mortem interval(PMI) in porcine and caprine eyes. 20 pairs of caprine and porcine eyes were obtained from an abattoir in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The eyeballs were enucleated and collected within an hour after death so as to correctly calculate the baseline level of Bicarbonate and chloride ion concentration as at the time of death and kept in a sterile container at room temperature (250C). The vitreous humour was carefully extracted from the enucleated porcine and caprine eyes at various post mortem intervals (0, 24, 48 and 72hrs). Anions concentrations were determined using the Schales and Schales technique (1941) for chloride determination and Van Slkye and Neil technique (1924) for bicarbonate determination.Data obtained from the experiment was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22.The result showed a negative correlation and an insignificant difference(P>0.05) in the concentration of anions in caprine and porcine eyes.

Key words: vitreous humour, post mortem interval, porcine, caprine.