Imaging cytochrome oxidation in hypothermically stored rat kidneys

Spectroscopic analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidation-reduction states is used to determine the respiratory integrity of hypothermically stored kidneys. One method uses a time-sharing fiber-optic spectrophotometer and the other uses a video-reflectance spectrometer to trace the reflectance changes of cytochrome c and cytochrome aa/sub 3/ in the kidney cortex. Some experimental results are presented, showing that the metabolic function can be assessed in a way that is noninvasive, regionally specific, and technically simple.<>