Comparative ToxicologicaI Study İn Rabbits of Post-Mortem Drug Levels in Plasma Versus Bone Marrow

Abstract

In forensic toxicology a good correlation between plasma and tissues or other biological fluids is needed to estimate a plasma drug concentration in cases where plasma is unavailable. We therefore compared post-mortem drug levels in plasma with corresponding levels in bone marrow. Albino rabbits, to which pethidine, tilidine, morphine, methadone, propoxyphene, haloperidol and methapyrilene was intravenously (LV.) administered, were sacrified one hour after drug administration. To quantitate these drug concentrations in plasma and bone marrow, capillary gas-liquid chromatography equipped with a nitrogen-phosphorus detector and radio - immunoassay techniques were used. The post-mortem concentrations of the LV. administered drug doscs, recovered from bone marrow, were compared ",ith the concentrations dctected in plasma. This study shows that for drugs like methapyrilene, morphine, pethidine, tilidine, haloperidol and propoxyphene, plasma concentrations might be enkulated from the Ievels found in bone marrow within a certain range.

Keywords

• drug
• marrow/plasma ratio
• post-mortem levels

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