Comparison of fresh and post-mortem human arterial tissue: an analysis using FT-IR microspectroscopy and chemometrics

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy and chemometric methods have been applied to the study of fresh and simulated post-mortem human arterial tissue. The results have shown that although physical differences were observed using light microscopy, no spectroscopic distinction could be made between these groups. The presence of collagen throughout the artery wall results in characteristic absorptions which may mask any biochemical changes that could otherwise have been detected by the FT-IR technique. Because the structure of the artery is unique, these findings should be regarded as tissue specific.