[Confocal Raman microspectroscopic study of human breast morphological elements].

Breast tissue sections were examined by means of confocal Raman spectroscopy with an excitation wavelength of 633 nm. Acquired using a microscopic mapping approach with the sample volume of -2 microm3, these spectra were compared with the ones of the commercially available actin, DNA, collagen (type I), triolein etc. Some spectra were distinguished and identified and characterize the morphological elements like cell cytoplasm, extracellular matrix etc. The cell nucleus spectrum was also obtained by K-means cluster analysis. The correlation analysis showed that the spectrum from a morphological element is highly correlated with that from the corresponding purified chemical. The spectroscopic characterization of these morphological elements was then investigated. This study is helpful to understanding the chemical/morphological basis of the Raman spectrum and designing the Raman microspectroscopic model of human breast tissue.