Journal Published Online: 01 September 1998
Volume 43, Issue 5

Evaluation of Aspartic Acid Racemization Ratios in the Human Femur for Age Estimation

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

Levels of D-aspartic acid (D/L ratio) in cranial noncollagen proteins (acid-soluble peptide fractions) have been reported to increase with age. We isolated total amino acid fractions from the femur and separately isolated acid-insoluble collagen fraction and acid-soluble peptide fractions; then D/L ratios were measured from each fraction by gas chromatography. We evaluated the applicability of their D/L ratios for age estimation based on their correlation coefficient. A sex-related difference was observed in the D/L ratio. In particular, aged females showed a low ratio, suggesting an association with bone disorders. In males, the D/L ratios of acid-soluble peptide fraction showed the highest correlation rate (r = 0.969) with age, and those of total amino acid fraction showed the highest correlation rate (r = 0.633) with age in females. Without separation of male and female, the D/L ratios of total amino acid fraction showed the highest value (r = 0.853). The D/L ratio of acid-soluble peptide fractions differed according to the size of bone powder particles, being higher for larger particle sizes. These results suggest that the application of D/L ratio from total amino acid fraction is the most effective method for estimating age using the human femur. However, care is necessary when studing cadavers that might be females.

Author Information

Ohtani, S
Kanagawa Dental College, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan
Matsushima, Y
Saitama Cancer Center Research Institute, Saitama, Japan
Kobayashi, Y
Saitama Cancer Center Research Institute, Saitama, Japan
Kishi, K
Saitama Cancer Center Research Institute, Saitama, Japan
Pages: 5
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Stock #: JFS14339J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14339J