Label-free detection of myocardial ischaemia in the perfused rat heart by spontaneous Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy, which identifies intrinsic molecular constituents, has a potential for determining myocardial viability under label-free conditions. However, its suitability for evaluating myocardial ischaemia is undetermined. Focusing on cytochromes, i.e., representative molecules reflecting mitochondrial activity, we tested whether Raman spectroscopy is applicable for evaluating myocardial ischaemia especially during early ischaemic phase. We obtained spontaneous Raman spectra of the subepicardial myocardium in the Langendorff-perfused rat heart upon 532-nm excitation before and during the “stopped-flow,” global ischaemia. Semi-quantitative values of the peak intensities at 750 and 1127 cm−1, which reflect reduced cytochromes c and b, increased immediately and progressively after induction of the stopped flow, indicating progressive reduction of the mitochondrial respiration. Such spectral changes emerged before the loss of 1) mitochondrial membrane potentials measured by the fluorescence intensity of tetramethyl rhodamine ethyl ester or 2) staining of the triphenyl tetrazolium chloride dye in the myocardium. The progressive increases in the Raman peaks by stopped flow were significantly retarded by ischaemic preconditioning. Sequential measurements of the peak intensities at 750 and 1127 cm−1 enabled early detection of the myocardial ischaemia based on the mitochondrial functions. These data suggest that Raman spectroscopy offers the potential to evaluate acute ischaemic heart under label-free conditions.