The course will include a review of male physiology, spermatogenesis and fertilization. The procedures appropriate for evaluation of male fertility will be presented and conditions and diseases associated with male factor infertility will be discussed. Basic and advanced andrology tests and procedures for both diagnostic and treatment purposes will be reviewed. Micromanipulation procedures (intracytoplasmic injection ICSI ) and treatments using epididymal and testicular sperm will be introduced.

A review of basic immunology will be covered including an overview of the organs, tissues and cells that comprise the immune system, different forms of immunity and the basis of the immune response. The reproductive immunology segment will focus on antibodies associated with infertility and reproductive failure, and also will include properties of the immune system during pregnancy.

Student laboratories will focus on semen analysis, sperm function tests, and preparation of partner and donor semen for artificial insemination. Advanced andrology procedures, including the sperm penetration assay and the hemi-zona assay, will be discussed and protocols provided. Reproductive Immunology: Students will perform procedures for detecting anitisperm antibodies in semen and in serum. Sperm- cervical mucus testing and cross-testing will be performed using controlled donor semen and bovine cervical mucus.

Lecture: The course will include a review of the female reproductive system, fertilization and implantation. The procedures appropriate for evaluation of female fertility will be presented and conditions and diseases associated with female factor infertility will be discussed. Basic and advanced tests and procedures for the treatment of infertility will be presented with a focus on assisted reproductive technology procedures, including in vitro fertilization and related procedures, micromanipulation, embryo culture, and third party reproduction.

Principles of methods of cryopreservation will be covered and procedures for freezing human oocytes, embryos, and ovarian and testicular tissues will be detailed. Legal, ethical and policy issues associated with cryopreservation will be introduced. Laboratory sessions will focus on freezing human spermatozoa and mouse gametes and embryos.

Policy Current and anticipated regulation of assisted reproductive technology (ART) will be discussed. Laboratory management will be covered extensively and will include development of quality control and quality assurance programs for ART and andrology laboratories, Basic ethics principles will be introduced and ethical issues associated with the practice of ART will focus on controversial and research procedures, including embryonic stem cell research, human cloning, fetal reduction, nuclear and cytoplasmic transfer, embryo freezing and storage, gestational hosts and surrogacy.

Students must complete the checklist procedures while working under supervision. Andrology procedures will include semen analysis, sperm functions tests, microbiology, preparation of partner and donor semen for artificial insemination and cryopreservation of male gametes.

Students must complete the checklist procedures while working under supervision. All ART procedures will be performed under supervision using appropriate models for practice. Procedures will include, in vitro fertilization and related procedures, micromanipulations including intracytoplasmic sperm injection, assisted hatching and preimplantation genetic diagnosis and cryopreservation of oocytes embryos.

Students in the RLS seminar will critique research papers in the field, will develop and present PowerPoint presentations on subjects covering andrology, ART, cryopreservation of human reproductive tissue, management issues in the reproductive laboratory, and policy, ethical and legal issues in ART. May be repeated for total of two credits.

Research projects for students in Reproductive Laboratory Science. Students will complete web- based modules, "The Scientific Method and the Art of Research" prior to project initiation. Projects should be related to the student'srea in individual interest and should address an area in reproductive laboratory science. Projects shouldh be under the supervision of a faculty member with expertise in the project area.