DNA-DEGRADATION IN FORMALIN-FIXED TISSUES

The intensity of DNA degradation in fixed tissues is dependent on the fixation solution and the fixation time. The aim of this study was the investigation of DNA degradation over fixation times of up to 70 days in different tissues (muscle, brain, liver, bone) and with different formalin concentration (2%, 4%, 8%; unbuffered). An additional test wa s performed to see whether the fixed tissues could be individualized u sing PCR analysis. The smallest amounts of DNA were extracted from liv er and brain and the largest from muscle and bone. The amount of DNA t hat could be extracted decreased with increasing formalin concentratio n, while at the same time DNA degradation increased. With the PCR-VNTR system HUMTH01, all fixed samples could be typed regardless of the fi xation time and the formalin concentration.