Autofluorescence of various rodent tissues and human skin tumour samples

Fluorescence spectra from different organs in rats and mice have been recorded to explore the potential of non-intrusive tissue diagnostics. The fluorescence was induced by a nitrogen laser that emitted at a wavelength of 337 nm. Optical multichannel techniques were used for the detection. Spectra are given from 19 different sites in Wistar/Furth rats, including an inoculated malignant tumour. The spectra seem to be a sum of two wavelength distributions only, each distribution occurring with a different weight in different organs. Spectra obtained from living and dead tissue were compared to verify that the measurements on sacrificed experimental animals were valid. Preliminary results are given for some human tumours, transplanted in nude mice, and for some human skin samples.