Evaluation of the impact of vitrification on the actin cytoskeleton of in vitro matured ovine oocytes by means of Raman microspectroscopy.

Purpose: Investigation of the changes induced by vitrification on the cortical F-actin of in vitro matured ovine oocytes by Raman microspectroscopy (RMS).

Methods: Cumulus-oocyte complexes, recovered from the ovaries of slaughtered sheep, were matured in vitro and vitrified following the Minimum Essential Volume method using cryotops. The cortical region of metaphase II (MII) oocytes (1) exposed to vitrification solutions but not cryopreserved (CPA-exp), (2) vitrified/warmed (VITRI), and (3) untreated (CTR) was analyzed by RMS.