IDENTIFICATION OF HUMAN SKELETAL-MUSCLE FROM A TISSUE FRAGMENT BY DETECTION OF HUMAN MYOGLOBIN USING A DOUBLE-SANDWICH ELISA

A method for identifying human skeletal muscle by detection of human m yoglobin using a double-sandwich ELISA was developed. When an extract was prepared from 0.1 g skeletal muscle homogenized with 10 ml PBS, th is method was able to detect human myoglobin in extracts diluted 10(4) -fold. There was no difference in the detection limit between individu als or sites of origin of skeletal muscles. Species specificity was go od and no cross reaction occurred with skeletal muscle from other anim als except the gorilla. Our method could also discriminate between ske letal muscle and other organs or tissues except the heart. Human myogl obin could be detected in skeletal muscles under the following conditi ons: putrefied at room temperature for 5 months, dried at room tempera ture for 11 months, heated at 100 degrees C for 72 h and immersed in f resh water at room temperature for 6 days. Two practical cases to whic h this method was applied are presented.