Postmortem redistribution of carbofuran and benzofuranol in rats determined using solid phase extraction by HPLC-MS/MS

Abstract

Carbofuran has been implicated in many homicide and suicide cases worldwide. We investigated the postmortem redistribution of carbofuran and its main metabolite benzofuranol using the rat model. Carbofuran (50 mg/kg) was intragastric administrated, followed by euthanasia 1 h post injection. Tissues including cardiac blood, lung, liver, kidney, spleen, brain, myocardium, and thigh muscle were collected at different postmortem intervals (0, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h). The samples were extracted using solid phase extraction cartridges filled with self-prepared multi-wall carbon nanotubes based molecular imprinting polymers, and analyzed using validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method. The concentrations of carbofuran and benzofuranol were found both influenced by postmortem redistribution and postmortem degradation throughout the postmortem period. The carbofuran concentration increased in cardiac blood, liver and kidney, but decreased in lung, while benzofuranol concentration increased in cardiac blood, liver, spleen, and kidney. The benzofuranol in cardiac blood and liver is more prominent than carbofuran after 80 h after death, which implies that benzofuranol could be regarded as an alternative marker in carbofuran poisoning cases for the corpse died for a long time when carbofuran could hardly be detected. These findings provide a valuable aiding information when determining the cause of death of carbofuran poisoning.