Estimation of age at death based on aspartic acid racemization in elastic cartilage of the epiglottis.

Age estimation based on aspartic acid racemization (AAR) has been applied successfully to various tissues. For routine uses, AAR is analyzed in dentine. For cases in which teeth are unavailable, analyzing AAR in purified elastin has been shown to be an alternative method. The suitability of elastic cartilage from the epiglottis as an elastin source for age estimation based on AAR was tested. A total of 65 tissue samples (cartilage) of epiglottis and 45 samples of elastin purified from the elastic cartilage of epiglottis samples were analyzed. While the D-aspartic acid content of total tissue samples increased with age only slowly, its increase with age in purified elastin samples was similar to that in purified elastin from other tissues. The relationship between the D-aspartic acid content and age was shown to be close enough for age estimation based on AAR in purified elastin from the elastic cartilage of the epiglottis, provided a sufficient quality of elastin purification. Age estimation based on AAR in purified elastin from the epiglottis might serve as a valuable alternative in cases in which other tissues (e.g., teeth) are unavailable.