ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 4

Immunohistochemical Contribution to the Study of Morphine Metabolism in Calliphoridae Larvae and Implications in Forensic Entomotoxicology
Bourel, B

Creusy, C
Service d'Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologique, Faculté Libre de Médecine, Hôpital Saint-Vincent, Boulevard de Belfort,

Gosset, D
Institut de Médecine Légale et Sociale, Faculté de Médecine, Place Théo Varlet,

Cailliez, J-C
Laboratoire Environment et Santé, Faculté Libre des Sciences et Faculté Libre de Médecine,

Fleurisse, L
Service d'Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologique, Faculté Libre de Médecine, Hôpital Saint-Vincent, Boulevard de Belfort,

Lee Goff, ML
University of Hawaii at Manoa, HI

Hédouin, V
Institut de Médecine Légale et Sociale, Faculté de Médecine, Place Théo Varlet,

(Received 1 February 2000; accepted 22 June 2000)

Abstract

Morphine was detected by immunohistochemistry on sections of third stage larvae of Calliphora vomitoria (Diptera, Calliphoridae) reared on minced beef meat previously treated with morphine hydrochloride. The detection was performed with an avidin-biotin-peroxidase-complex method. Positive specimens showed specific staining of the haemolymph and a more intense immunoreaction in an area located at the limit between exocuticle and endocuticle. These results constitute an evidence of morphine accumulation inside the cuticle of Diptera larvae during their development. During the pupariation, the larval cuticle is transformed into the sclerotized puparium. This study consequently points out the possibilities of analyzing empty pupariae when suitable tissues or living necrophagous insects are absent.

Keywords:
forensic science, immunohistochemistry, morphine, Calliphora vomitoria, forensic entomology

Paper ID: JFS15009J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS15009J
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