NCJ Number
142990
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 38 Issue: 3 Dated: (May 1993) Pages: 633-640
Date Published
1993
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Using a sample of 78 individuals, aged 10 to 95, researchers investigated whether measurement of aspartic acid racemization in intervertebral discs (IVD) could be used in the postmortem estimation of age at death.
Abstract
The results showed that aspartic acid racemization in IVD increased with age; the rate of racemization was much higher in the nucleus pulposus than in the annulus fibrosus. Findings indicated that the correlation (in samples with no or moderate degeneration) was close enough to permit estimation of age at death based on the extent of aspartic acid racemization in the tissue. If an age estimation is based on the aspartic acid racemization in the anterior peripheral annulus fibrosus, researchers must ensure that samples do not have marked degradation and are taken from a specified site. This procedure is a useful supplement to established procedures for postmortem age determination. 4 figures, 1 table, and 29 references