Hormonal Decay After Death: Evaluating DHEA-S as a Potential Molecular Marker for Postmortem Estimation

Author

Marisa Lydia Novak, University of MontanaFollow

Year of Award

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Name

Anthropology (Forensic and Biological Anthropology)

Department or School/College

Anthropology

Committee Chair

Dr. Meradeth Snow

Commitee Members

Dr. Elizabeth Bews Dr. Amanda Andreas

Keywords

Anthropology, Forensics, Biomarkers, Hormones, Decay

Subject Categories

Anthropology | Biological and Physical Anthropology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

Post-mortem interval (PMI) estimation is a central component of forensic anthropological investigation, but traditional methods for estimating time since death lose accuracy after ~72 hours. Recent research indicates that some steroid hormones may undergo predictable degradation patterns after death, offering potential use as biochemical clocks for PMI estimation beyond this threshold. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and its sulfate form (DHEA-S) are of particular interest due to their metabolic stability, systemic influence, and association with trauma. This study investigates whether DHEA-S hormonal degradation patterns correlate with time elapsed since death and body temperature, evaluating their potential as biochemical PMI markers. 160 mL of fresh, whole blood were divided and stored under three conditions: refrigeration (3°C), room temperature (20°C), and incubation (37°C). Sera from sample aliquots under each condition were separated every eight hours across five days. DHEA-S concentrations were determined via commercial ELISA, and DNA quantified on both sera and red blood cells (RBC) via qPCR. DHEA-S concentrations were analyzed with respect to time and temperature using regression modeling. Results demonstrate that sera can be separated after five days from samples stored at room and refrigerated temperatures but not at elevated temperature after four days. This research will investigate whether there is a correlation between hormone concentrations and time across multiple variables, and whether DNA remained quantifiable throughout the study period.

Recommended Citation

Novak, Marisa Lydia, "Hormonal Decay After Death: Evaluating DHEA-S as a Potential Molecular Marker for Postmortem Estimation" (2025). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 12580.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/12580