Fourier-Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy (FT-IR) Study on Caput and Cauda Mouse Spermatozoa

Abstract

Fourier-Transform Infrared micro-spectroscopy (µFT-IR) was used for an in vitro investigation on spermatozoa (SPZ) samples separately collected from caput and cauda of mouse epididymis. SPZ are characterized by deep biochemical changes during the transit along the epididymis and they can constitute ideal candidates for a µFT-IR investigation, thanks to the ability of this technique in analyzing cells at a molecular level. Appreciable differences were reported in the infrared spectra from caput and cauda SPZ, and biochemical changes in protein, nucleic acid, lipid, and carbohydrate content of cells were evidenced. The present investigation indicates that µFT-IR can constitute a valuable tool for monitoring, in an easy and fast way, the changes suffered by SPZ during the transit along the epididymis.

Different experimental approaches for Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy applications in biology and biotechnology: A selected choice of representative results

“…The hepatic tissues with higher BPA levels present a different lipid composition and a decrease in glycogen accumulation, suggesting a metabolic disorder preceding steatosis (for further details see Ref. 115 ).…”

“…Our group proposed an integrated approach based on the use of mass spectrometry and FTIR spectroscopy for characterizing the liver of rats exposed to BPA and the metabolic disease occurrence. 115 In particular, using a liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometer method, the BPA concentration in exposed rat livers was measured and three classes of samples (low, medium, and high BPA levels) were identified. FTIR spectra were acquired using KBr pellets.…”

FTIR Spectroscopy to Reveal Lipid and Protein Changes Induced on Sperm by Capacitation: Bases for an Improvement of Sample Selection in ART

“…In order to observe if the extent of lipid peroxidation could be considered as an alternative evidence of spermatozoa mobility, we focused on the infrared region (3000–2800) cm −1 , which is mainly characterized by lipids vibrations [ 14 ], especially CH 2 and CH 3 symmetric and asymmetric stretching. A detailed assignment of the band is reported in Table 3 (lipid).…”

“…While the shape of the lipid region (3050–2800 cm −1 ) [ 14 ] was maintained relatively constant throughout spermatozoa capacitation in the different samples, we decided to analyze the ratio of symmetric CH 2 /CH 3 vibrations (2853/2870) since the two related peaks appeared the most affected. The 2853 cm −1 band corresponded to the symmetric vibration of CH 2 , while the 2870 cm −1 band corresponded to the symmetric vibration of CH 3 .…”

“…FTIR spectroscopy is the most promising and effective tool in biomedical research, allowing the detection of sample vibrational features without external labels or laborious sample preparation, while providing comprehensive information on sample biochemical composition and macromolecular structure. Performing FTIR spectroscopy on biological materials, the most informative spectral regions are the fingerprint region (900–1350 cm −1 ) for nucleic acids and sugars, the amide I and amide II (amide I/II) region (1450–1700 cm −1 ) for proteins and the region between 2800 and 3500 cm −1 attributable to the stretching vibrations of S-H, C-H, N-H and O-H, and carbon skeleton fingerprint vibrations mainly belonging to lipids [ 14 ]. We already used FTIR to reveal oxidative stress mediated DNA damage, artificially induced by in vitro Fenton’s reaction on hydrated sperm samples.…”