The Role of histo-taphonomy in postmortem interval estimation: A preliminary study of porcine liver and kidney

Abstract

Background and aim: Accurate estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) remains a critical challenge in forensic investigations due to the complex interplay of decompositional processes. Histo-taphonomy, the microscopic examination of postmortem tissue changes, offers a potential approach for PMI determination. This study investigates the histological changes in porcine liver and kidney tissues over a controlled postmortem timeline to assess their forensic applicability.

Methodology: A healthy female pig (Sus scrofa) was euthanized, and liver and kidney tissues were harvested immediately postmortem. Samples were collected at 0, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, and 96 hours postmortem. The tissues were fixed in 10% buffered formalin, processed using standard histological techniques, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for microscopic examination.

Results: Histological analysis revealed progressive tissue degradation over time. Kidney tissues initially showed mild structural alterations, followed by significant nuclear changes and architectural disintegration. Liver tissues exhibited early-stage fibrosis and progressive hepatocyte necrosis. The observed cellular degeneration followed a time-dependent pattern, with both organs demonstrating severe autolysis by 96 hours postmortem.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that histo-taphonomy provides a structured framework for PMI estimation based on organ-specific decomposition patterns. Given the anatomical and physiological similarities between porcine and human tissues, this model could serve as a valuable tool in forensic investigations. Future studies should incorporate environmental variables and molecular markers to enhance the accuracy and applicability of histological PMI estimation in forensic casework.