Discrimination of embryonic quality using Raman spectroscopy

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25560212
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biomedical engineering/Biomaterial science and engineering
• Research Institution: Kwansei Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: Ishigaki Mika 関西学院大学, 理工学部, 助教 (60610871)
• Research Collaborator: OZAKI Yukihiro ; SATO Hidetoshi ; HASHIMOTO Kosuke
• Project Period (FY): 2013-02-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: ラマン分光法 / マウス胚 / 卵質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, I explored the development of mouse embryo and its quality based on molecular information, obtained nondestructively using Raman spectroscopy. The detailed analysis of Raman spectra measured in situ during embryonic development revealed a temporary increase in protein content after fertilization. Proteins with a beta-sheet structure present in the early stages of embryonic development are derived from maternal oocytes, while alpha-helical proteins are additionally generated by switching on a gene after fertilization. The transition from maternal to embryonic control during development can be non-destructively profiled, thus facilitating the in situ assessment of structural changes and component variation in proteins generated by metabolic activity. Furthermore, it was indicated that embryos with low-grade morphology had high concentrations of lipids and hydroxyapatite.

Free Research Field

分子分光学