Autofluorescence spectroscopy in whole organs with a mobile detector system.
OBJECTIVE
Autofluorescence can be exploited to obtain spectroscopic information about tissues or organs in a noninvasive fashion. The knowledge of normal organ patterns is a prerequisite for subsequent characterization of pathological states, eg, inflammation or tumors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the autofluorescence properties of healthy organs in mice.


METHODS
Organs from C57Bl/6 mice were removed in toto and stored in physiologic sodium chloride solution on ice (non-perfused specimens). Investigations were performed with a custom-made mobile fluorescence detector. Excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) were measured in selected organs (bladder, brain, kidney, liver, and spleen) (n = 5). Afterwards, single-emission spectra were obtained in selected organs (bladder, colon, brain, kidney, liver, and spleen) and peak fluorescence signal intensities were calculated (n = 9).


RESULTS
EEMs showed that excitation at wavelengths from 300-310 nm (emission spectra in all samples of bladder and brain; probably caused by collagen/elastin) and from 350-360 nm (emission spectra in all samples with the exception of spleen; probably caused by NAD(P)H) seem to be best suited for autofluorescence measurements in organs. The single-emission spectra measurements were noticeably different in terms of occurrence (yes/no response) and intensity of fluorescence emission peaks in different organs.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined autofluorescence measurements of collagen/elastin (for structural information) and NAD(P)H (for functional information) allow conclusions about the target organs. Therefore, autofluorescence measurements seem to be a diagnostic tool feasible for characterization of tissue.
Hansch
Andreas
A
Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Bachstr. 18, D-07743 Jena, Germany. andreas.hansch@med.unijena.de
Sauner
Dieter
D
Hilger
Ingrid
I
Böttcher
Joachim
J
Malich
Ansgar
A
Frey
Oliver
O
Bräuer
Rolf
R
Kaiser
Werner A
WA
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003106:Colon / Q000502:physiology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013154:Spleen / Q000502:physiology*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000502:physiology*