Laboratory Evaluation of Sperm–Ovum Interaction

The article will briefly address background information on relevant events involved in sperm–ovum interaction leading to fertilization. Reference to published work and laboratory protocols will be presented for the following assays: (1) the hyaluronan binding assay (evaluates sperm interaction with the cumulus cells extracellular matrix), (2) the hemizona assay and the sperm zona binding ratio assay (evaluate sperm interaction with the ZP), (3) the in vitro acrosome reaction (AR) tests ZIAR and ARIC (evaluate induced AR), and (4) the ZP-free hamster egg sperm penetration assay (evaluates several sperm functions, among them sperm fusion to the oolemma and sperm decondensation).