The fluorescent properties of maturing arterial elastin.

Two fluorescent peaks resembling dityrosine have been found in arterial elastin. The high intensity of fluorescence in neonatal elastin residues suggests an early cross-linking role. Increases of wavelength with age follow differing patterns for the two peaks. Pulmonary artery elastin fluorescence changes more slowly with age than aortic elastin, except in children with pulmonary hypertension.