The phosphorescence of the cut surfaces of organs important in oral physiology

Abstract

Cut surfaces of the kidney, skin, tongue, thymus, parotid, tooth, heart, and liver were immersed in liquid nitrogen and made to phosphoresce to an intensity that permitted their being photographed by the afterglow emitted from their exposed surfaces. This manuscript describes the effect of topically applied tetracycline and injected tetracycline on the phosphorescence exhibited by these organs and also the effects of prior removal of important glands of internal secretion on the subsequent phosphorescence of the above mentioned organs. The following conclusions are reported: (a) The covering layer of the tongue is more highly phosphorescent than the deeper structures; (b) The injection of 1 cm 3 of a 4 per cent tetracycline solution four hours before tissue removal had very little effect on tissue phosphorescence, whereas tetracycline exerted an appreciable quenching when applied to the surface; (c) Except for adrenalectomy, the removal of most other important glands of internal secretion did not markedly affect the phosphorescence of the organs tested; (d) The major excitation band responsible for the phosphorescence at 432 and 485 nanometers peaked at 250 n; (e) A minor excitation peak at 310 nanometers was also evident; (f) Both the excitation and emission bands showed marked changes in intensity when the directional vectors of the excitation and emission wave propagations were varied between horizontal and vertical; (g) Some evidence is presented that two capture centres (excitation centres) are probably involved in the phosphorescence and that both are located in different planes.