Spectroscopic fluorescence measurements of lamb and human heart tissue in vitro

Laser-induced fluorescence spectra were obtained during the exposure of lamb heart (n=20) tissue to Argon-ion radiation (457.9nm). Fluorescence spectra from different heart compartments (the left and right atria and ventricles, the myocardium, the epicardium, and the aorta) were recorded. Simple algebraic algorithms based on the spectral intensity variation were constructed in order to detect spectral features and characterize the different cardiac compartments. Additionally, it was investigated whether each chamber exhibited constant spectral response. After the end of each experiment the lamb hearts were stored in formalin (10%). The samples were irradiated again after forty eight (48) hours in order to investigate the spectral differences that appear due to formalin conservation. Similar fluorescence measurements were taken from a limited number of human heart tissues (n=2) ex vivo.