Label-free in vivo assessment of brain mitochondrial redox states during the development of diabetic cognitive impairment using Raman spectroscopy

Mitochondrial redox imbalance has been recognized as a unifying cause for diabetic cognitive impairment. Currently, a robust method for the in vivo assessment of brain mitochondrial redox imbalance is still lacking. Here, we conducted a spectral study to assess brain mitochondrial redox imbalance in the process of diabetic cognitive impairment by using label-free resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS). Our findings showed that mitochondrial redox imbalance in cultured neurons and organotypic cortical slices exposed to high glucose were quantified by the reduction of Raman peak area at 750 cm-1 and 1128 cm-1, which were also associated with synaptic injury and neuron apoptosis. Raman peak area at 750 cm-1 and 1128 cm-1 were also decreased in db/db mice at the age of 8, 16 and 24 weeks, and had a high correlation with the mitochondrial NAD+/NADH redox couple. Of note, this mitochondrial redox imbalance occurred before measurable cognitive decline in 8-week-old diabetic mice, and might signal impending diabetic cognitive impairment. In summary, RRS-based mitochondrial redox states assay enabled the in vivo assessment of brain mitochondrial redox imbalance, and might provide an early indicator to enhance the prediction of diabetic cognitive impairment and inform on the response to therapies targeting mitochondrial redox imbalance. [Display omitted] •RRS was firstly used to study mitochondrial redox imbalance in cultured neurons, organotypic slices, and diabetic mice’s brain.•RRS successfully assessed brain mitochondrial redox imbalance in the process of diabetic cognitive impairment in vivo.•Mitochondrial redox imbalance in neurons exposed to high glucose was associated with synaptic injury and neuron apoptosis.•Mitochondrial redox imbalance occurred early, and might signal impending diabetic cognitive impairment.