The study deals with the post-translational modifications of proteins – glycation of the tissue of the intervertebral disc and determination of one of advanced glycation end’s products – pentosidine in the relation to the age. Pentosidine was detected in the hydrolysate of the intervertebral discs from persons between the ages of 16 and 95 years. 142 samples were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography, and the detected amounts of pentosidine were processed statistically. The coefficient of correlation of dependence of the amount of pentosidine on the age amounts to r = 0.92. The results of the work testify to the fact that it is possible to use the detection of pentosidine in the tissue of the intervertebral disc for the estimation of the age. Nevertheless subsequent experiments should be done under different conditions post-mortem decomposition.

        Key words: forensic science – age estimation – dead bodies – post-translational modification of proteins – glycation, pentosidine – intervertebral disc