Postmortem delay has minimal effect on brain RNA integrity.
Author(s): Ervin JF, Heinzen EL, Cronin KD, Goldstein D, Szymanski MH, Burke JR, Welsh-Bohmer KA, Hulette CM
Publication: J Neuropathol Exp Neurol, 2007, Vol. 66, Page 1093
PubMed ID: 18090918 PubMed Review Paper? No
Purpose of Paper
Conclusion of Paper
Studies
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Study Purpose
The purpose of this study was to asses the effect, if any, of several antemortem and postmortem variables (such as postmortem interval, agonal state, ventricular cerebrospinal fluid pH, and cause of death) on RNA integrity in multiple brain regions. Beta-actin and GAPDH mRNA were evaluated from frontal cortex, temporal cortex, occipital cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus biospecimens.
Summary of Findings:
The authors report finding no correlations between the variables measured and the percentage of intact RNA isolated. A slight correlation was observed between patient age and pH of the postmortem ventricular fluid.
Biospecimens
Preservative Types
- Frozen
Diagnoses:
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Autopsy
- Not specified
Platform:
Analyte Technology Platform RNA Real-time qRT-PCR RNA Spectrophotometry RNA Electrophoresis Pre-analytical Factors:
Classification Pre-analytical Factor Value(s) Preaquisition Diagnosis/ patient condition Alzheimer's disease
Matched non-Alzheimer's control
Preaquisition Patient genotype ApoE status 22
ApoE status 23
ApoE status 24
ApoE status 33
ApoE status 34
ApoE status 44
Preaquisition Patient age 56 - 103 years
Preaquisition Patient gender Female
Male
Storage Storage duration 0.6 - 19.2 years
Preaquisition Postmortem interval 40 min. - 30 h
Biospecimen Acquisition Biospecimen location Frontal cortex
Temporal cortex
Occipital cortex
Cerebellum
Hippocampus
Preaquisition Diagnosis/ patient condition Fever
No fever
Preaquisition Diagnosis/ patient condition Sepsis
No sepsis
Preaquisition Diagnosis/ patient condition Drug use
No drug use
Preaquisition Diagnosis/ patient condition Provision of supplemental oxygen in agonal period
No supplemental oxygen in agonal period
Preaquisition Cause of death Pneumonia
Urinary tract infection
Myocardial infarction
Metastatic cancer
Cardiopulmonary arrest
Dehydration
Cancer
Biospecimen Aliquots and Components pH Ventricular fluid pH 6.26 - 8.0