Raman spectroscopy reveals the lipid phase transition in preimplantation mouse embryos during freezing

Self-pressurised rapid freezing at arbitrary cryoprotectant concentrations

Self-pressurised rapid freezing (SPRF) has been proposed as a simple alternative to traditional high-pressure freezing (HPF) protocols for vitrification of biological samples in electron microscopy and cryopreservation applications. Both methods exploit the circumstance that the melting point of ice reaches a minimum when subjected to pressure of around 210 MPa, however, in SPRF its precise quantity depends on sample properties and hence, is generally unknown. In particular, cryoprotective agents (CPAs) are expected to be a factor; though eschewed by many SPRF experiments, vitrification of larger samples notably cannot be envisaged without them. Thus, in this study, we address the question of how CPA concentration affects pressure inside sealed capillaries, and how to design SPRF experiments accordingly. By embedding a fibre-optic probe in samples and performing Raman spectroscopy after freezing, we first present a direct assessment of pressure build-up during SPRF, enabled by the large pressure sensitivity of the Raman shift of hexagonal ice. Choosing dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) as a model CPA, this approach allows us to demonstrate that average pressure drops to zero when DMSO concentrations of 15 wt% are exceeded. Since a trade-off between pressure and DMSO concentration represents an impasse with regard to vitrification of larger samples, we introduce a sample architecture with two chambers, separated by a partition that allows for equilibration of pressure but not DMSO concentrations. We show that pressure and concentration in the fibre-facing chamber can be tuned independently, and present differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data supporting the improved vitrification performance of two-chamber designs. Lay version of abstract for 'Self-pressurised rapid freezing at arbitrary cryoprotectant concentrations' Anyone is familiar with pipes bursting in winter because the volume of ice is greater than that of liquid water. Less well known is the fact that inside a thick-walled container, sealed and devoid of air bubbles, this pressure build-up will allow a fraction of water to remain unfrozen if the sample is also cooled sufficiently rapidly far below the freezing point. This phenomenon has already been harnessed for specimen preparation in microscopy, where low temperatures are useful to immobilise the sample, but harmful if ice formation occurs. However, specimen preparation cannot always rely on this pressure-based effect alone, but sometimes requires addition of chemicals to inhibit ice formation. Not enough is known directly about how these chemicals affect pressure build-up: Indeed, rapid cooling below the freezing point is only possible for small sample volumes, typically placed inside sealed capillaries, so that space is generally insufficient to accommodate a pressure sensor. By means of a compact sensor, based on an optical fibre, laser and spectrometer, we present the first direct assessment of pressure inside sealed capillaries. We show that addition of chemicals reduces pressure build-up and present a two-chambered capillary to circumvent the resulting trade-off. Also, we present evidence showing that the two-chambered capillary design can avoid ice formation more readily than a single-chambered one.

Trajectory Inference for Unraveling Dynamic Biological Processes from Raman Spectral Data

Cell heterogeneity is a crucial parameter for understanding the complexity of numerous biomedical issues. Trajectory inference-based approaches are recent tools developed for single-cell transcriptomics (scRNA-seq) data analysis. They aim to reconstruct evolving pathways from the variety of cell states that coexist simultaneously in a cell population. We propose to expand this concept to Raman spectroscopy, a label-free modality that probes the global molecular nature of a sample, by investigating the dynamics of adipocyte differentiation.

Cryopreservation increases accumulation of exogenous stearic acid in mouse embryos

Cryopreservation of preimplantation embryos is a widely used technique, but this procedure might impact the subsequent embryo development. The effect of slow freezing and vitrification on the lipid metabolism in preimplantation mammalian embryos is not well studied. In this work, we applied Raman spectroscopy of isotopically labeled molecules to address the effects of cryopreservation on fatty acid accumulation in mouse embryos. Embryos after slow freezing or vitrification were cultured for 20 h in a medium supplemented with bovine serum albumin saturated with deuterated stearic acid (dSA). After this period the concentration of dSA estimated from Raman spectra of frozen-thawed and vitrified-warmed embryos at the morula stage was almost twice higher compared to non-cryopreserved morulas. At the same time, frozen-thawed and vitrified-warmed 4-cell embryos did not demonstrate any difference in the level of stearic acid uptake from non-cryopreserved embryos of the same stage. After an additional 24 h culture, cryopreserved and non-cryopreserved embryos demonstrated similar dSA uptake.

Continuous gradient temperature Raman spectroscopy of 1-stearoyl- 2-docosahexaenoyl, 1-stearoyl- 2-arachidonoyl, and 1,2-stearoyl phosphocholines

Mixed chain phospholipids containing a saturated fatty acid at sn1 and a polyunsaturated fatty acid in sn2 are common in the specialized biological membranes prevalent in neural, retinal and organ tissues. Particularly important are mixed lipids containing palmitic or stearic acid and arachidonic or docosahexaenoic acid. Gradient temperature Raman spectroscopy (GTRS) applies the temperature gradients utilized in differential scanning calorimetry to Raman spectroscopy, providing a straightforward technique to identify molecular rearrangements and phase transitions. Herein we utilize GTRS for 1-18:0, 2-20:4n-6 PC; 1-18:0 2-22:6n-3 PC; and 1-18:0, 2-18:0 PC from -80 to 50 °C temperatures. 20 Mb three-dimensional data arrays with 0.2 °C increments and first/second derivatives allowed detailed vibrational mode assignment and analysis. Samples were analyzed neat and with molecular hydration. Previously reported phase transitions for hydrated 18:0-20:4PC and 18:0-22:6PC and numerous spectral differences resulting from hydration and the double bond structure were clearly observed. Molecular models showed that the addition of minimal water molecules results in significant structural differences compared to the neat molecules; 18:0-22:6PC is strikingly compact with water when viewed from the hydrophilic end. This precise Raman data cannot be observed in typically utilized fully hydrated vesicle samples, however the improved GTRS will allow for more precise analysis in fully hydrated vesicles because the underlying modes in the unavoidably broadened spectra can be identified.

Flash Brillouin Scattering: A Confocal Technique for Measuring Glass Transitions at High Scan Rates

Glass transition temperatures T _g are most commonly measured by differential scanning calorimetry, a method that has been extended to the flash scanning calorimetry (FSC) regime by reducing sample volumes. However, significant manual preparation effort can render FSC impractical for, e.g., local probing of spatially heterogeneous specimens. Another strategy can be to select a small volume by focusing down a laser beam, where Brillouin Light Scattering (BLS) is a proven method for confocal T _g measurement. Here, we introduce Flash Brillouin Scattering, which extends BLS to fast scan rates, achieved by periodically heating the probed region with an infrared laser. For comparison with conventional BLS, we first characterize T _g of pure glycerol, and show how rapid quenching produces a less packed glass with downshifted sound velocity. We then turn toward its aqueous solutions, which crystallize too fast for a nonflash approach, and demonstrate scan rates in excess of 10⁵ K/s. These results are of interest not only because glycerol is a model system for hydrogen-bonded glass formers, but also because of its applications as a cryoprotectant for frozen biological samples. Light scattering studies of the latter, currently limited to cryo-Raman spectroscopy, are likely to be complemented by the technique introduced here.

Alteration of the lipid phase transition during mouse embryos freezing after in vitro culture with linoleic acid

Lipids significantly affect embryo cryopreservation in some mammalian species depending on the cell lipidome quantity and composition. One of the ways to study the relationship between lipid content and cryotolerance of cells is to study the effect of lipidome modification on laboratory mice. The objective of this research was to study how in vitro culture of mouse embryos with linoleic acid (LA) will affect lipid phase transition (LPT) during cooling and subsequent embryo development after cryopreservation. Embryos obtained in vivo at the 2-cell stage were cultured with 200 μM LA for 46 h up to the morula/blastocyst stage. Thereafter, one portion of embryos was slowly frozen to reveal the effect of LA on survival after cryopreservation, another portion was used to characterize the lipid composition and to determine the temperature of the LPT onset. Confocal fluorescence microscopy of Nile Red stained embryos showed a significant increase in lipid content of the LA treated group compared to the controls. Raman measurements showed that the onset of LPT in LA treated embryos is lower than in untreated ones: -5 °C vs +2 °C. However, these changes in the LPT onset did not affect the survival rates of embryos after cryopreservation. In summary, in vitro culture with LA changes the biophysical characteristics of embryos' lipidome and is realized in lower LPT onset, but this does not affect embryo survival after cryopreservation.

Effects of a high-fat diet on the lipid profile of oocytes in mice

Существуют предпосылки того, что у женщин с ожирением возможно снижение качества ооцитов. При этом остается неясным, как связано это изменение с ожирением: опосредованно или напрямую, че- рез изменение содержания и/или состава липидов в ооцитах. Целью настоящей работы было изучение на мышах влияния богатой жирами диеты, применяемой к самкам-донорам, на качественный состав и общее количество липидов в незрелых и созревших in vivo ооцитах. Установлено, что диета, богатая липидами, при- водит к увеличению массы тела самок мышей по сравнению с контролем ( p < 0.001; 44.77 ± 1.46 и 35.22 ± 1.57 соответственно), а также уровня холестерина ( p < 0.05; 2.06 ± 0.10 и 1.78 ± 0.10 соответственно) и триглицери- дов ( p < 0.05; 2.13 ± 0.23 и 1.49 ± 0.21 соответственно) в крови этих животных. Эта диета не повлияла на степень ненасыщенности внутриклеточных липидов незрелых (0.207 ± 0.004 в эксперименте и 0.206 ± 0.002 в контроле) и зрелых ооцитов (0.212 ± 0.005 в эксперименте и 0.211 ± 0.003 в контроле). При созревании ооцитов in vivo на- блюдалось возрастание содержания внутриклеточных липидов. В зрелых ооцитах количество липидов было больше в экспериментальной группе по сравнению с контролем ( p < 0.01; 8.15 ± 0.37 и 5.83 ± 0.14 соответствен- но). Выявлено увеличение количества внутриклеточных липидов при созревании ооцитов как после стан- дартной диеты ( p < 0.05; 4.72 ± 0.48 и 5.83 ± 0.14 соответственно), так и после диеты, богатой жирами ( p < 0.001; 3.45 ± 0.62 и 8.15 ± 0.37 соответственно). Таким образом, при созревании ооцитов мышей in vivo возрастает со- держание внутриклеточных липидов, богатая жирами диета приводит к повышенному содержанию липидов в зрелых ооцитах.

Effects of slow freezing and vitrification on embryo development in domestic cat

Cryopreservation of gametes and embryos is used to maintain genetic diversity of domestic and wild felids. However, felid oocytes and preimplantation embryos contain large amount of intracellular lipids, which affect their cryosensitivity. The objective was to compare the effects of slow freezing and vitrification and to study lipid phase transition (LPT) during cooling in cat embryos. In vitro-derived embryos were cultured 48 hr up to 4-8 cell stage, thereafter were either slow frozen or vitrified. Propylene glycol (PG) alone was used as a cryoprotective agent (CPA) for slow freezing, and a mixture of PG and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were used as CPAs for vitrification. After thawing/warming, embryos were in vitro cultured additionally for 72 hr. The total time of in vitro culture was 120 hr for all the groups including non-frozen controls. Effects of both cryopreservation procedures on the subsequent embryo development and nuclear fragmentation rate in embryonic cells were compared. There was no significant differences among the percentages of embryos achieved morula and early blastocyst stage in frozen-thawed group (36.4% and 20.0%), in vitrified-warmed group (34.3% and 28.6%) and in controls (55.6% and 25.9%). Cell numbers as well as nuclear fragmentation rate did not differ in these three groups. Average lipid phase transition (LPT) temperature (T*) was found to be relatively low (-2.2 ± 1.3°C) for the domestic cat embryos. It is supposed that the low LPT of LDs may provide a good background for successful application of slow freezing to domestic cat embryos. Generally, our study indicates that slow freezing and vitrification are both applicable for domestic cat embryo cryopreservation.

Raman spectroscopy evidence of lipid separation in domestic cat oocytes during freezing

Although lipid droplets are believed to play an important role in cryopreservation of mammalian embryos and oocytes, the effect of low temperatures on lipid droplets and related mechanisms of cryodamage are still obscure. Here, we provide Raman spectroscopy evidence of lipid separation inside the lipid droplets in domestic cat oocytes during slow freezing. It was shown that at -25 °C lipids coexist in two separated phase states inside lipid droplets. The scale of detected domains was a few micrometers size. We also found that under certain conditions these areas have a specific spatial distribution. Lipids with high melting temperatures are distributed near the surface of lipid droplets while fusible lipids are located deep inside. Raman spectroscopy was found to be a prospective approach to study inhomogeneity of lipid phase transition in cells and to reveal effects of this inhomogeneity on cryopreservation of biological cells.

Effect of Fe3O4 Nanoparticles on Mixed POPC/DPPC Monolayers at Air-Water Interface

Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) as a commonly used carrier in targeted drug delivery are widely used to carry drugs for the treatment of diseases. However, the mechanism of action of between Fe₃O₄ NPs and biological membranes is still unclear. Therefore, this article reports the influence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic Fe₃O₄ NPs on mixed 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) that were studied using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film technique and an atomic force microscope (AFM). From surface pressure-area (π-A) isotherms, we have calculated the compression modulus. The results showed that hydrophobic Fe₃O₄ NPs enlarged the liquid-expanded (LE) and liquid-condensed (LC) phase of the mixed POPC/DPPC monolayers. The compressibility modulus of the mixed POPC/DPPC monolayer increases for hydrophilic Fe₃O₄ NPs, but the opposite happens for the hydrophobic Fe₃O₄ NPs. The adsorption of hydrophobic Fe₃O₄ NPs in mixed POPC/DPPC monolayers was much more than the hydrophilic Fe₃O₄ NPs. The interaction of hydrophilic Fe₃O₄ NPs with the head polar group of the mixed lipids increased the attraction force among the molecules, while the interaction of hydrophobic Fe₃O₄ NPs with the tail chain of the mixed lipids enhanced the repulsive force. The morphology of the monolayers was observed by AFM for validating the inferred results. This study is of great help for the application of Fe₃O₄ NPs in biological systems.

Lipid Droplet Phase Transition in Freezing Cat Embryos and Oocytes Probed by Raman Spectroscopy

Embryo and oocyte cryopreservation is a widely used technology for cryopreservation of genetic resources. One limitation of cryopreservation is the low tolerance to freezing observed for oocytes and embryos rich in lipid droplets. We apply Raman spectroscopy to investigate freezing of lipid droplets inside cumulus-oocyte complexes, mature oocytes, and early embryos of a domestic cat. Raman spectroscopy allows one to characterize the degree of lipid unsaturation, the lipid phase transition from the liquid-like disordered to solid-like ordered state, and the triglyceride polymorphic state. For all cells examined, the average degree of lipid unsaturation is estimated as ∼1.3 (with ±20% deviation) double bonds per acyl chain. The onset of the lipid phase transition occurs in a temperature range from -10 to +4°C and does not depend on the cell type. Lipid droplets in cumulus-oocyte complexes are found to undergo abrupt lipid crystallization shifted in temperature from the ordering of the lipid conformational state. In the case of mature oocytes and early embryos obtained in vitro, the lipid crystallization is broadened. In the frozen state, lipid droplets inside cumulus-oocyte complexes have a higher content of triglyceride polymorphic β and β' phases than estimated for mature oocytes and early embryos. For the first time, to our knowledge, the temperature evolution of the phase state of lipid droplets is examined. Raman spectroscopy is proved to be a promising tool for in situ monitoring of the lipid phase state in a single embryo/oocyte during its freezing.