Multiphoton imaging of induced autofluorescent advanced glycation end products in porcine aorta

Prolonged exposure of tissues to elevated blood sugar levels lead to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), thus contributing to diabetic complications. Since the vascular system is in immediate contact with blood, diabetic effects on aorta is expected. In this study, we incubated excised porcine aorta in D-glucose, D-galactose, and D-fructose solutions for different periods. The tissue specimens were imaged using multiphoton microscopy. We found that for Days 4 to 48 incubation, autofluorescence is constant along the radial direction of the aorta sections, suggesting that monosaccharide diffusion is rapid in comparison to the rate of formation of fluorescent AGEs. Moreover, we found that in porcine aorta, the rate of fluorescent AGE formation of D-fructose and D-glucose are factors 2.08 and 1.14 that of D-galactose.