462
K. malek et al.
the ν s (So 4
2−
) mode of proteoglycans. Interestingly, the protein, nucleic acids and
collagen content does not change in intrauterine growth-restricted rats in contrast
to lipids where the concentration is significantly higher compared to the control
group. on the other hand, the characteristic glycogen triplet randomly appears with
a higher intensity for the low-protein diet, probably indicating variation in glycogen
accumulation in those hearts. moreover, the spatial distribution for lipids and the
“mixed” contribution band follows the protein content in contrast to the carbohydrates. Because the intensities of collagen and nucleic acid bands do not alter within
control and disordered hearts, the 1228 cm
−1
band is proposed as a marker of proteoglycans. this class of glycosylated proteins is found in normal cardiac tissue and
its deposition affects cardiac performance and vascular functions. Since their distribution is similar to the distribution of proteins and lipids, the proteoglycan accumulation might be associated with upregulation of lipids in maternal protein restriction.
In turn, carbohydrate deposition can result from glucose-impaired metabolism during intrauterine growth restriction. In this process, the excess of glucose is stored in
tissues in the form of glycogen/starch and lipids [151].
15.5.4 Liver Tissue
the first reports on spectral characteristics of the liver tissue in its normal, cirrhotic,
and neoplastic states demonstrated a good correlation between infrared microspectroscopy and pathological/histochemical results and showed bands indicative of
the diseased state [152, 153]. the liver lobule contains columns of hepatocytes,
30–40 μm in diameter, and epithelial cells, which are rich in glycogen. The distribution and concentration of glycogen vary within the lobule, and can increase in some
abnormal states. this is clearly shown in IR spectra from different points of the
cirrhotic liver tissue section [152] and thus the variation of intensity of the glycogen
bands at 1025, 1080, and 1152 cm
−1
cannot be associated with the diseased state
of the liver. the normal human tissue from an autopsy material did not reveal the
presence of glycogen. the presence/absence of glycogen in the investigated tissues
is consistent with PAS (periodic acid-Schiff) staining, which is sensitive to cellular
glycogen. In the case of healthy tissue, the absence of glycogen results from metabolic activity post mortem leading to complete remove of this biomolecule from the
liver. however, a direct correlation between the lack of glycogen and pathological
state must be performed with caution, since a change in its concentration can occur
due to normal biochemical processes and not pathology. For instance, studies on
liver tumours in rats have suggested that some preneoplastic hepatocytes store an
excess of glycogen [152]. glycogen-free IR spectra of normal, cirrhotic, and neoplastic liver tissues also exhibit small spectral differences between the type of tissue
in the region of 1100–900 cm
−1
[152, 153]. the comparison of healthy and neoplastic liver samples demonstrates that the neoplastic tissue is characterized by a broad
IR maximum at 1080 cm
−1
along with more intense bands at 960 and 1240 cm
−1
[152, 153]. All the bands are attributed to dNA vibrations and their appearance
K. malek et al.
the ν s (So 4
2−
) mode of proteoglycans. Interestingly, the protein, nucleic acids and
collagen content does not change in intrauterine growth-restricted rats in contrast
to lipids where the concentration is significantly higher compared to the control
group. on the other hand, the characteristic glycogen triplet randomly appears with
a higher intensity for the low-protein diet, probably indicating variation in glycogen
accumulation in those hearts. moreover, the spatial distribution for lipids and the
“mixed” contribution band follows the protein content in contrast to the carbohydrates. Because the intensities of collagen and nucleic acid bands do not alter within
control and disordered hearts, the 1228 cm
−1
band is proposed as a marker of proteoglycans. this class of glycosylated proteins is found in normal cardiac tissue and
its deposition affects cardiac performance and vascular functions. Since their distribution is similar to the distribution of proteins and lipids, the proteoglycan accumulation might be associated with upregulation of lipids in maternal protein restriction.
In turn, carbohydrate deposition can result from glucose-impaired metabolism during intrauterine growth restriction. In this process, the excess of glucose is stored in
tissues in the form of glycogen/starch and lipids [151].
15.5.4 Liver Tissue
the first reports on spectral characteristics of the liver tissue in its normal, cirrhotic,
and neoplastic states demonstrated a good correlation between infrared microspectroscopy and pathological/histochemical results and showed bands indicative of
the diseased state [152, 153]. the liver lobule contains columns of hepatocytes,
30–40 μm in diameter, and epithelial cells, which are rich in glycogen. The distribution and concentration of glycogen vary within the lobule, and can increase in some
abnormal states. this is clearly shown in IR spectra from different points of the
cirrhotic liver tissue section [152] and thus the variation of intensity of the glycogen
bands at 1025, 1080, and 1152 cm
−1
cannot be associated with the diseased state
of the liver. the normal human tissue from an autopsy material did not reveal the
presence of glycogen. the presence/absence of glycogen in the investigated tissues
is consistent with PAS (periodic acid-Schiff) staining, which is sensitive to cellular
glycogen. In the case of healthy tissue, the absence of glycogen results from metabolic activity post mortem leading to complete remove of this biomolecule from the
liver. however, a direct correlation between the lack of glycogen and pathological
state must be performed with caution, since a change in its concentration can occur
due to normal biochemical processes and not pathology. For instance, studies on
liver tumours in rats have suggested that some preneoplastic hepatocytes store an
excess of glycogen [152]. glycogen-free IR spectra of normal, cirrhotic, and neoplastic liver tissues also exhibit small spectral differences between the type of tissue
in the region of 1100–900 cm
−1
[152, 153]. the comparison of healthy and neoplastic liver samples demonstrates that the neoplastic tissue is characterized by a broad
IR maximum at 1080 cm
−1
along with more intense bands at 960 and 1240 cm
−1
[152, 153]. All the bands are attributed to dNA vibrations and their appearance