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The Sperm Penetration Assay for the Assessment of Fertilization Capacity

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Spermatogenesis

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 927))

Abstract

The sperm penetration assay, or zona-free hamster oocyte penetration assay, is utilized to measure the ability of sperm to undergo capacitation, fuse with the egg membrane, and decondense the sperm head within the cytoplasm of the oocyte, resulting in the formation of the male pronucleus. The test is scored by calculation of the percentage of ova that are penetrated (the original assay developed) or the average number of sperm penetrations per ovum (the sperm capacitation index of the optimized assay). The sperm penetration assay identifies those couples that will have a high likelihood of success with in vitro fertilization.

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery (Urology), The Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Kathleen Hwang

  2. Scott Department of Urology and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Dolores J. Lamb

Authors
  1. Kathleen Hwang
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  2. Dolores J. Lamb
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dolores J. Lamb .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Andrology and IVF Laboratories, Department of Surgery (Urology), University of Utah School of Medicine, Arapeen Dr. 675, Salt Lake City, 84108, Utah, USA

    Douglas T. Carrell

  2. , Andrology and IVF Laboratories, University of Utah School of Medicine, Arapeen Way 675, Salt Lake City, 84108, Utah, USA

    Kenneth I. Aston

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© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Hwang, K., Lamb, D.J. (2013). The Sperm Penetration Assay for the Assessment of Fertilization Capacity. In: Carrell, D., Aston, K. (eds) Spermatogenesis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 927. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-038-0_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-038-0_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-037-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-038-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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