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<p>Accurately estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) is a pivotal forensic challenge, as the precision of “chemical clocks” based on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is confounded by intrinsic factors like age and extrinsic factors like insect colonization. This study aimed to disentangle these effects using TD-GC-MS with multivariate analysis to profile VOCs from rats of three ages with and without <i>Sarcophaga peregrina</i> (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) colonization. While decomposition time was the principal driver of VOC succession, exhibiting stage-specific signatures like early-phase 2-hexanone and mid-phase aromatics, age and insects modulated this timeline via distinct mechanisms. Age increased the chemical complexity of VOC profiles, with adult rats showing significantly more diverse VOC profiles than younger cohorts during days 10–14 (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). In contrast, insect colonization acted as a potent accelerator, advancing the chemical timeline by approximately 6 days, with the day 4 profile of colonized rats mirroring the day 10 profile of insect-free ones. We demonstrate that age increases the chemical heterogeneity of VOC profiles while insects accelerate temporal progression. Both factors must therefore be integrated as critical variables in VOC-based PMI models to ensure accuracy.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

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Disentangling the roles of age and insect colonization in the temporal succession of VOC profiles in rat decomposition

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月13日

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  • Chengxin Ye,
  • Yang Xia,
  • Xiangyan Zhang,
  • Jian Zhao,
  • Sheng Hu,
  • Fan Yang,
  • Sile Chen,
  • Hai Wu,
  • Lei Zhao,
  • Xingchun Zhao,
  • Yadong Guo

摘要

Accurately estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) is a pivotal forensic challenge, as the precision of “chemical clocks” based on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is confounded by intrinsic factors like age and extrinsic factors like insect colonization. This study aimed to disentangle these effects using TD-GC-MS with multivariate analysis to profile VOCs from rats of three ages with and without Sarcophaga peregrina (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) colonization. While decomposition time was the principal driver of VOC succession, exhibiting stage-specific signatures like early-phase 2-hexanone and mid-phase aromatics, age and insects modulated this timeline via distinct mechanisms. Age increased the chemical complexity of VOC profiles, with adult rats showing significantly more diverse VOC profiles than younger cohorts during days 10–14 (p < 0.05). In contrast, insect colonization acted as a potent accelerator, advancing the chemical timeline by approximately 6 days, with the day 4 profile of colonized rats mirroring the day 10 profile of insect-free ones. We demonstrate that age increases the chemical heterogeneity of VOC profiles while insects accelerate temporal progression. Both factors must therefore be integrated as critical variables in VOC-based PMI models to ensure accuracy.

Graphical abstract