Colon tissue constitutes a valid model for the comparative analysis of soft tissue by Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) imaging because it contains four major tissue types such as muscle tissue, connective tissue, epithelium and nerve cells. Raman microscopic images were recorded in the mapping mode using 785 nm laser excitation and a step size of 10 mm from three regions within a thin section that encompassed mucus, mucosa, submucosa, and longitudinal and circular muscle layers. FTIR microscopic images that were composed of 4, 8 and 9 individual images of 4096 spectra each were recorded from the same regions using a FTIR spectrometer coupled to a microscope with a focal plane array detector. Furthermore, Raman microscopic images were recorded at a step size of 2.5 mm from three ganglia that belong to the myenteric plexus. The results are discussed with respect to lateral resolution, spectral resolution, acquisition time and sensitivity of both modalities.
