SOFT 2004 Meeting Abstracts - Society of Forensic Toxicologists
SOFT 2004 Meeting Abstracts - Society of Forensic Toxicologists
SOFT 2004 Meeting Abstracts - Society of Forensic Toxicologists
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P39 <br />
FORMALIN-INDUCED METHAMPHETAMINE DECOMPOSITION IN HUMAN LIVER<br />
l<br />
Diaa M. Shakleya , James C. Kraner 2 , James A. Kaplan 2 , and Patrick S. Callery*l,! Dept. <strong>of</strong> Basic<br />
Pharmaceutical Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506 and 20ffice <strong>of</strong>Chief Medical<br />
Examiner, Charleston, WV, 25302.<br />
Methamphetamine is methylated in the presence <strong>of</strong> aqueous formalin mixtures within hours at room<br />
temperature. The product, N,N-dimethylamphetamine, is also found in human liver exposed to<br />
methamphetamine followed by incubation with formalin. In the present study, we determined if liver<br />
samples from confirmed methamphetamine abuse subjects would produce N,N-dimethylamphetamine upon<br />
formalin fixation. Human liver samples were obtained from four deaths that were investigated by the West<br />
Virginia Office <strong>of</strong> the Chief Medical Examiner. Full toxicological analysis was conducted on samples<br />
from the decedents and methamphetamine was among the positive findings in each case. The method used<br />
to expose the tissue to formaldehyde involved treating a small piece <strong>of</strong> liver (100-200 mg) from each case<br />
with formalin solution (20% v/v) for 24 hrs at room temperature. The formalin treated tissues were<br />
homogenized and the resulting suspension was sonicated for 5 min and then centrifuged. Supernatant<br />
aJiquots (l0 f.l.1) were added to 500 f.l.1 <strong>of</strong> 0.1 % formic acid in acetonitrile for mass spectrometric analysis on<br />
a Finnigan LCQ DECA ion trap mass spectrometer with an electrospray ionization source. Positive ion<br />
spectra recorded in MS, MS2 and MS 3 modes were used to confirm the presence <strong>of</strong> N,Ndimethylamphetamine<br />
in the mixture, as well as the absence <strong>of</strong> methamphetamine. Liver tissue not treated<br />
with formalin did not contain a detectable level <strong>of</strong> N,N-dimethylamphetamine. The results suggest that<br />
embalmed tissues may give false negative findings for methamphetamine. Detection <strong>of</strong> N,Ndimethyl<br />
amphetamine in embalmed liver is a potential surrogate indicator <strong>of</strong> methamphetamine ingestion.<br />
This project was supported by Award 2001-RC-CX-K003 through the National Institute <strong>of</strong> Justice, Office<br />
<strong>of</strong> Justice Programs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this<br />
publication are those <strong>of</strong>the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views <strong>of</strong> the Department <strong>of</strong>Justice.<br />
Key words: Formalin-induced, Methamphetamine, Methylation<br />
,,-",<br />
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