Effectiveness of near-infrared spectroscopy as a non-invasive tool to discriminate spectral profiles of in vitro cultured oocytes from goats

Here, we aimed to discriminate between the spectral profiles of spent culture media after oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) and culture (IVC) from goats of different ages subjected to repeated hormonal treatments. The profiles were discriminated using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy combined with multivariate methods. A total of 19 goats (young = 10; old = 9) were subjected to serial hormonal stimulation (HS) with gonadotropins. Cumulus oophorus complexes (COCs) were collected using laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU) and subjected to IVM and parthenogenetic activation. The initial embryos were subjected to IVC. Spent culture media were collected after oocyte IVM and on day 2 of IVC and analyzed using NIR spectroscopy. NIR spectral data were interpreted through chemometric methods, such as principle component analysis (PCA) and partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The results of PCA analysis clearly showed a separation in the spectral profiles between the experimental groups (HS sessions; young and old animals) both after IVM and IVC. Overall, the main absorption bands were attributed to the C-H group second overtone, first overtone of O-H and N-H, and C-H combinations and may serve as molecular markers. On the other hand, the spectral data obtained using PLS-DA models provided a better classification of the groups. The results showed the possibility of discriminating young and old groups as well as the three HS sessions with high specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy using NIR spectra. Thus, the culture medium analysis using NIR spectroscopy combined with multivariate methods indicated the dissimilarities between the groups and provided an insight into the in vitro development of goat oocytes. This technique serves as an efficient, objective, rapid, and non-invasive method to discriminate spectral profiles.