AUTOFLUORESCENCE SPECTRA AS RELATED TO TENSILE PROPERTIES FOR PERIMYSIUM FROM BOVINE MASSETER

Dissected, raw and heated (70 degrees C) perimysial sheets (74) from b ovine masseter were subjected to fluorescence spectroscopy and tensile testing. The sheets were excited at 280 nm and 335 nm. Fluorescence m easurements correlated (R = 0.62-0.93) with various tensile parameters . For raw samples, excitation at 280 nm predicted the breaking force w ith slightly reduced precision, 0.31 N vs 0.29 N, compared to excitati on at 335 nm. The correlation between tensile parameters and the fluor escence spectrum was diminished after heat treatment (Rmax = 0.71 comp ared to Rmax = 0.93 for the unheated system). The lower predictability for heated systems was due to nonlinearity as well as lack of precisi on in the tensile method for weak tissues.