Historical Perspective
Historical Perspective Eamonn V. Hoxey The use of disinfection, preservation, and sterilization practices to kill microorganisms or to prevent or inhibit their growth is as old as human civilization or…
Chapter 19 – DNA Damage: TdT-Mediated dUTP Nick-End-Labelling Assay
Abstract Male infertility affects men worldwide with about 20 percent of couples having male factor infertility [1]. The routine semen analysis is the first step in the assessment of male…
Chapter 20 – DNA Damage: Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay
Abstract The year 2020 is the fortieth anniversary of the introduction of the concept of “sperm DNA fragmentation” as related to human and animal male factor fertility. This concept was…
Chapter 22 – DNA Damage: Halo Sperm Test
Abstract Fertility, pregnancy and childbirth are connected and inseparable realities that ultimately need to combine to result in a “baby at home”; each one of these phenomena possesses their own…
Chapter 23 – DNA Damage: Fluorescent In-Situ Hybridization
Abstract Several sperm DNA integrity and chromatin quality assays have been developed and used for the detection of sperm DNA fragmentation and chromosomal aberrations [1, 2]. The Comet assay is…
Chapter 25 – Future Developments: Sperm Proteomics
Abstract Spermatozoa are mature male gametes that are produced in the testes of a healthy man by spermatogenesis, with further maturation of sperm taking place during their transit through the…
Chapter 24 – Clinical Value of Sperm Function Tests
Abstract Infertility is a major public health concern affecting up to 25 percent of couples worldwide [1]. It is defined by the failure of a couple to achieve conception after…
Chapter 15 – Oxidative Stress Testing: Indirect Tests
Abstract Oxidative stress (OS) is the consequence of an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the failure of antioxidants to neutralize excessive ROS production. Although many sperm functions require…
Chapter 21 – DNA Damage: COMET Assay
Abstract Sperm are highly specialized cells, evolved to function as vehicles for the transport of the paternal genome to the oocyte. The sperm cell is characterized by a distinct head,…
Chapter 17 – Chromatin Condensation: Chromomycin A3 (CMA3) Stain
Abstract In order to transport an intact and complete paternal genome to the oocyte, spermatozoa are characterized by an extremely compacted nuclear DNA as compared to the nucleus of somatic…
