Label-free imaging and biochemical characterization of bovine sperm cells

Biosensors (Basel). 2015 Apr 1;5(2):141-57. doi: 10.3390/bios5020141.

Abstract

A full label-free morphological and biochemical characterization is desirable to select spermatozoa during preparation for artificial insemination. In order to study these fundamental parameters, we take advantage of two attractive techniques: digital holography (DH) and Raman spectroscopy (RS). DH presents new opportunities for studying morphological aspect of cells and tissues non-invasively, quantitatively and without the need for staining or tagging, while RS is a very specific technique allowing the biochemical analysis of cellular components with a spatial resolution in the sub-micrometer range. In this paper, morphological and biochemical bovine sperm cell alterations were studied using these techniques. In addition, a complementary DH and RS study was performed to identify X- and Y-chromosome-bearing sperm cells. We demonstrate that the two techniques together are a powerful and highly efficient tool elucidating some important criterions for sperm morphological selection and sex-identification, overcoming many of the limitations associated with existing protocols.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Holography / instrumentation
  • Holography / methods*
  • Male
  • Sex Preselection / methods
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman / instrumentation
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman / methods*
  • Spermatozoa / abnormalities
  • Spermatozoa / cytology*
  • X Chromosome
  • Y Chromosome