Measurement of temperature changes in cooling dead rats using magnetic resonance thermometry

Magnetic resonance imaging thermometry has been introduced as a technique for measurement of temperature changes in cooling dead rats. Rat pelvic magnetic resonance images were acquired sequentially more than 2 h after euthanasia by halothane overdose. A series of temperature difference maps in cooling dead rats was obtained with calculating imaging phase changes induced by the water proton frequency shift caused by temperature changes. Different cooling processes were monitored by the temperature difference maps in the rats. Magnetic resonance imaging thermometry applied in the study of laboratory animals could theoretically reproduce a variety of causes of death with different environmental conditions. Outcomes from experimental animal studies could be translated into a temperature-based time of death estimation in forensics.