Autofluorescence patterns in short-term cultures of normal cervical tissue

Fluorescence spectroscopy has potential to improve cervical precancer detec tion. The relationship between tissue biochemistry and fluorescence is poor ly understood. The goal of this study was to characterize normal cervical a utofluorescence, using fresh tissue short-term tissue cultures and epitheli al cell suspensions. Transverse, short-term tissue cultures were prepared f rom 31 cervical biopsies; autofluorescence images were obtained at 380 and 460 nm excitation. Fluorescence excitation-emission matrices were measured from normal, precancerous and cancerous cervical cell suspensions. Observed fluorescence patterns contrast those reported for frozen-thawed tissue, an d were placed into groups with (1) bright epithelial and weak stromal fluor escence; (2) similar epithelial and stromal fluorescence; and (3) weak epit helial and bright stromal fluorescence. The average ages of women in the gr oups were 30.9, 38.0 and 49.2 years. Epithelial fluorescence intensity was similar in Groups 1 and 2, but weaker in Group 3, Stromal intensity was sim ilar in Groups 2 and 3, but weaker in Group 1. The ratio of epithelial to s tromal fluorescence intensity was significantly different for all groups. E EMs of cell suspensions showed peaks consistent with tryptophan, reduced fo rm of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) and flavin adenine dinu cleotide. Short-term tissue cultures represent a novel, biologically approp riate model to understand cervical autofluorescence. Our results suggest a biological basis for the increased fluorescence seen in older, postmenopaus al women.