A new approach to evaluate aging effects on human oocytes: Fourier transform infrared imaging spectroscopy study  Giorgia Gioacchini, Ph.D., Elisabetta Giorgini, Ph.D., Lisa Vaccari, Ph.D., Paolo Ferraris, Ph.D., Simona Sabbatini, Ph.D., Veronica Bianchi, Ph.D., Andrea Borini, Ph.D., M.D., Oliana Carnevali, Ph.D.  Fertility and Sterility  Volume 101, Issue 1, Pages 120-127 (January 2014) DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.09.012 Copyright © 2014 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 (A) Photomicrographs and (B) total absorbance cartograms, reconstructed by integrating under 1,800–1,000 cm−1, of group A and B oocytes. False color images were integrated in the following spectral ranges: (C) 3,100–2,800 cm−1 (CH2 and CH3 stretching modes), (D) 1,580–1,480 cm−1 (Amide II), and (E) 1,300–900 cm−1 (phosphates and carbohydrates moieties). (F) Average spectra of group A and B oocytes in the spectral range 4,000–900 cm−1. Fertility and Sterility 2014 101, 120-127DOI: (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.09.012) Copyright © 2014 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions

Figure 2 Numerical variations of the following band area values for the A and B experimental groups: (A) νasym CH2/CH3; (B) ν =CH/νasym CH3; (C) νsym CH2/νasym CH3; (D) 1,556 ± 2 cm−1 (β-sheet); (E) 1,541 ± 3 cm−1 (helical-random components); (F) 1,518 ± 1 cm−1 (tyrosine); (G) νC=O (trans)/νC=O (gauche); (H) 1,045/1,081 (νC-O carbohydrates/νsym PO2−); (I) 1,158/1,172 (νC-O H-bonded carbohydrates/νC-O non-H-bonded proteins). Data are presented as mean ± SD. Student's t-test was used for comparison between the two experimental groups, using the statistical software package Prism5 (GraphPad Software, Inc.), with significance set at P<.05. Fertility and Sterility 2014 101, 120-127DOI: (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.09.012) Copyright © 2014 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions

Figure 3 Peak Fitting in the spectral range 1,180–900 cm−1 for group A and B oocytes. Fertility and Sterility 2014 101, 120-127DOI: (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.09.012) Copyright © 2014 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Terms and Conditions