Muscle fluorometry: a determination of the depth of penetration

Fluorometric recordings of NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) were made on rabbit papillary muscles. The specimens were placed between the UV light source and a small window of the detection stage. As the muscle was moved over the window in a transverse direction, simultaneous measurements could be taken of transmitted UV light and fluorescent light for various thicknesses of tissue. It is concluded that a muscle thickness of 0.65 mm is optimal before absorption of the incident light decreases the fluorescence signal.