The investigation of damage in the muscle tissue with the oxidant/antioxidant balance and the extent of postmortem DNA damage in rats

The relationship of the extent of DNA damage and certain components of the oxidant/antioxidant balance in rat femoral muscle tissue with the post-mortem intervals was investigated and examined by making direct comparison with the histopathological findings. The results have shown that the oxidant/antioxidant balance in the striated muscle tissue to remain constant at the 0 hours post-mortem; to shift mildly in favour of the oxidants at 2 hours post-mortem; to shift moderately in favour of the oxidants at 3 hours post-mortem; and, to shift severely in favour of the oxidants at 4 and 5 hours post-mortem. The amount of DNA damaged products was detected to increase at 4 and 5 post-mortem hours when the oxidant/antioxidant balance became severely shifted. The biochemical findings were found to be in full accordance with the histopathological findings. The above-mentioned findings indicate that DNA becomes subjected to degradation at the hours after post-mortem when the oxidants are strongly predominate.