Ultraweak light emission from rat liver nuclei.

An extremely weak native light emission from rat liver nuclei was detected and studied using a highly sensitive single photon counting system. This emission is oxygen dependent and we attribute it to (per) oxidative processes. The effects of deuterium oxide and 1,4-diazabicyclo-[2.2.2] octane on the light emission suggests the possible involvement of singlet oxygen. The kinetic features of the underlying reactions including biphasic response to both oxygen and temperature changes, could be clearly discerned. Further study of this light emission can serve as a useful adjunct to biochemical investigations of oxidative processes which play an important role in mutation, carcinogenesis and aging.