AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course provides the theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of biology, seminology, embryology and physiopatology of human reproduction, through an integrated approach of the student to new technologies of assisted medically procreation, and to related laws.

TEACHING METHODS

24 hours of lectures + 16 hours of laboratory.

Any Student with documented Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or with any special needs, should contact the Lecturer(s) and to the dedicated SLD Representative in the Department before class begins, in order to liaise and arrange the specific teaching methods so that the learning aims and outcomes may be met.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1) Introduction to Reproductive Medicine: history, diagnosis, infertility

2) LMP techniques of Levels I and II

Level I: Targeted reports and simple insemination techniques; Level II: Updated treatment on egg collection, the different in vitro insemination techniques and embryo transfer and the possible risks of the techniques from the doctor’s point of view.

3) Legislation

4) Diagnostic methods of seminal fluid

Updated discussion on the Spermiogram, the different analytical methods of Fragmentation of spermatic DNA (Tunel test, COMET assay, Histone H2AX, SCD test), Oxidative Stress Test, Sperm and Urinoculture and new diagnostic perspectives in molecular.

5) Methods of preparation of seminal fluid

Updated treatment on the different techniques of Selection and Capacitation of seminal fluid (swim up, discontinuous gradient and washing).

6) Clinical embryology and techniques of PMA

Updated treatment on the egg cell identification, on the different in vitro insemination techniques (Intracitoplasmic Sperm Injection-ICSI, Intracitoplasmic Injection of Morphologically Selected Spermatozoa-IMSI, In Vitro Fertilization with Embryo Transfer-FIVET) and in vivo (Gamete intrafallopian transfer-GIFT, Zygote intrafallopian transfer-ZIFT), on the embryo culture until the transfer of embryos into utero.

7) Cryopreservation of male and female gametes and embryos

8) Organization of a semen bank

9) Quality in laboratory management

10) Male and female infertility genetics

11) Molecular techniques in embryology

PGS (Genetic screening before implantation) and PGD (Genetic diagnosis before implantation)

12) Molecular techniques of prenatal diagnosis and paternity tests

Invasive (villocentesis, amniocentesis) and non-invasive (fetal DNA analysis) techniques of prenatal diagnosis. Paternity test with analysis of the microsatellites.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

PIERANDREA CANEPA (President)

MONICA GATTI (President)

VALERIA VISCONTI (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

II semester, in March.

Class schedule

HUMAN REPRODUCTION BIOTECHNOLOGIES