title: Argon ion laser-excited autofluorescence in normal and atherosclerotic aorta and coronary arteries: morphologic studies.
abstract: Argon ion laser-excited autofluorescence was studied in unstained frozen sections of 47 normal and atherosclerotic human aortas and coronary arteries by means of a bright-field microscope modified for fluorescence microscopy with 476 nm argon ion laser epillumination, and compared to morphology in serial sections stained with H & E, Movat pentachrome, and oil red O. Normal artery autofluorescence correlated morphologically with the structural protein fibers elastin and collagen in the intima, media, and adventitia. Atherosclerotic plaque autofluorescence correlated morphologically with lipid or calcified deposits in the atheroma core. The autofluorescence of these deposits differed from that of elastin and collagen in distribution, intensity, and color, and increased with the severity of the plaque. We conclude that argon ion laser-excited autofluorescence in normal and atherosclerotic arteries correlates with morphology and has diagnostic potential in laser angiosurgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195-5138.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fitzmaurice
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Bordagaray
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Engelmann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Richards-Kortum
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kolubayev
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Feld
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Ratliff
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology*; D001128:Argon; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000295:instrumentation; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D001128:Argon