Factors Affecting In Vitro Assessment of Sperm Quality

Dear Colleagues,

The study of the different in vitro sperm parameters is essential to evaluate sperm quality, to predict the fertilizing potential of semen samples and to detect male infertility. These aspects are important in the development of Assisted Reproduction Technologies (IVF, ICSI) in human, the application of artificial insemination in livestock species, the conservation of animal biodiversity and in the study of factors with possible effect on male fertility. Despite the advances in recent years, the predictive ability of in vitro analysis on the fertility potential of semen remains still limited. The combination of different procedures of sperm evaluation, mainly flow cytometry and computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA), as well as obtaining new knowledge about sperm parameters, could improve this predictive ability. Flow cytometry and CASA systems allow to objectively assess a high number of cells and parameters in a short period of time.  The fact that sperm is the most diverse animal cell in the animal kingdom implies that sperm quality analysis techniques often have to be adapted for each species. This special issue will focus on the most used and advanced in vitro methodologies to evaluate sperm quality for its application in the preservation of seminal doses and the prediction of semen and male fertility in different animal groups, such as mammals, birds, fishes or insects.

Dr. Miguel A. Silvestre
Dr. Jesús L. Yániz
Dr. Eva Mocé
Dr. Carles Soler 
Dr. Eduardo Roldán
Guest Editors

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