Fertilization is a very complex biological process that requires the perfect cooperation between two highly specialized cells: the male and female gametes. The oocyte provides the physical space where this process takes place, most of the energetic need, and half of the genetic contribution. The spermatozoon mostly contributes the other half of the chromosomes and it is specialized to reach and...

Assisted reproductive technologies in all mammals are critically dependent on the quality of the oocytes used to produce embryos. For reasons not fully clear, oocytes matured in vitro tend to be much less competent to become fertilized, advance to the blastocyst stage, and give rise to live young than their in vivo-produced counterparts, particularly if they are derived from immature females. H...

sperm dna is known to contribute one half of the genomic material to the offspring. the integrity of sperm dna is important in fertilization, embryonic and fetal development, and postnatal child well being. the nature has created multiple barriers that allow only the fittest sperm to reach and fertilize an oocyte. however, assisted reproductive techniques (art), like ivf and icsi, may allow spe...

Background: This study was designed to respond to the controversy regarding the necessity of oocyte activation after the ICSI procedure for normal embryo development in sheep. Materials and Methods: The effect of chemical stimulation with either 5mM ionomycin (I) for 5 minutes or ionomycin + 2 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) for 3 hours on the efficiency of ICSI, was compared in six experimen...