HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY DETECTION OF SULFIDE IN TISSUES FROM SULFIDE-TREATED MICE

The biological and forensic use of ion-interaction reversed-phase high -performance liquid chromatography for the determination of hydrogen s ulfide-derived methylene blue is evaluated by measuring the sulfide co ntent in tissues from sulfide-treated mice. Various preparative condit ions were examined. The determinations of background levels of sulfide from brain, liver and kidney were compared to sulfide levels from mic e exposed to 60 mu g g(-1) sodium hydrosulfide. At the time of death, significant increases above background sulfide levels were measured fo r all three biological tissues. To evaluate its forensic potential, we used this sulfide detection methodology to evaluate comparatively the sulfide levels from fresh and frozen samples of brain, liver and kidn ey. The stability of sulfide levels obtained from frozen brain makes t his tissue the most reliable tissue for forensic evaluation. Samples o f brain, liver and kidney obtained within 24 h of death by sulfide int oxication had demonstrable elevations in sulfide concentration.