Whole-body fluorography using black light fluorescent tubes.

A simple and inexpensive apparatus and techniques are described for recording fluorographs of whole-body cryosections of mice injected with a fluorescent compound. The apparatus was constructed with commercial fluorescent tubes which emit UV light of 300-400nm and a single-lens reflex camera equipped with UV cut and Kodak Wratten filters.Autofluorescence of the whole-body section observed by using this technique was discussed and the effects of lapse of time after cryosectioning, fixation, and pH on the autofluorescence were also investigated. Autofluorescence of the skeletal muscle, myocardium, smooth muscle, brain, kidney cortex and pancreas was intensified with time after cryosectioning, but that of the Harderian gland was gradually faded. In other tissues, autofluorescence remained unchanged up to 2 weeks after cryosectioning. All fixatives used in this experiment reduced the autofluorescence of tissues and organs. Among the fixatives, 100% acetone had the least effect on autofluorescence. At pH4, autofluorescence of all tissues was considerably increased in comparison with pH7. With increasing pH, autofluorescence of most tissues was gradually reduced except for the bones and the Harderian gland.