EMAR0832c Methods of Assisted Reproduction II - practice

Faculty of Medicine
spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
0/4/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
prof. MVDr. Aleš Hampl, CSc. (seminar tutor)
PharmDr. Zuzana Holubcová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
MUDr. Eva Mecová (seminar tutor)
MUDr. Volodymyr Porokh, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
RNDr. Gabriela Tauwinklová (seminar tutor)
Drahomíra Kyjovská (assistant)
Guaranteed by
prof. MVDr. Aleš Hampl, CSc.
Department of Histology and Embryology – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine
Contact Person: RNDr. Gabriela Tauwinklová
Supplier department: Department of Histology and Embryology – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine
Timetable of Seminar Groups
EMAR0832c/Sk_1: Thu 13:30–16:50 B 4.24
EMAR0832c/Sk_2: Thu 10:00–13:20 B 4.24
Prerequisites (in Czech)
EMAR0731c Methods of Assisted Reproduction
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract
The aim of the course is to deepen and consolidate students' practical skills in the field of assisted reproduction methods and, at the same time, to familiarize them with other key laboratory procedures in embryological practice that expand on the knowledge acquired in the EMAR1 course. During the practical sessions, students develop their skills in micromanipulation with gametes and embryos and independently perform gamete processing, quality assessment, and preparation for fertilization. Students become familiar with the practical aspects of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), cryopreservation of gametes and embryos, various types of embryo culture, and the evaluation of morphokinetic parameters of preimplantation development. The course focuses on systematic practical training in new procedures and the consolidation of correct working habits in the embryology laboratory.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the student will be able to: 

  • independently perform gamete processing, quality assessment, and preparation for fertilization in an embryology laboratory,
  • be familiar with basic micromanipulation techniques, including intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI),
  • be familiar with various types of embryo culture and evaluate the basic morphological and morphokinetic parameters of their preimplantation development,
  • perform basic gamete and embryo cryopreservation procedures and understand their significance in clinical practice,
  • be familiar with the practical aspects of assisted hatching.

Key topics

  • basic and special methods of assisted reproduction
  • conventional in vitro fertilization, including independent preparation of sperm samples for fertilization and evaluation of fertilization
  • deepening of micromanipulation skills: training in ICSI phases with an emphasis on correct technique (sperm immobilization, oocyte positioning, sperm injection)
  • classical and extended embryo culture, individual and group culture
  • evaluation of embryo development – basic morphological criteria, static evaluation of blastocysts, grading systems, introduction to the evaluation of morphokinetic parameters (Time lapse systems)
  • laser-assisted hatching and zona thinning
  • safety when working with liquid nitrogen, handling samples in liquid nitrogen, sample storage, specifics of cryopreservation of infectious samples,
  • principles and methods of cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos (slow freezing, vitrification; open and closed freezing systems), practical training in freezing and thawing oocytes and embryos; 

Study resources and literature
    recommended literature
  • WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen, 5th ed., 2010.
  • Coward K., Wells D.: Textbook of Clinical Embryology, 1st ed., Cambridge 2013.
  • Elder K.: In Vitro Fertilization. 3rd ed. Cambridge 2011.
  • Alpha Scientists in Reproductive Medicine and ESHRE Special Interest Group of Embryology:
  • Magli, C, Jones,G.M., Lundin,K., Van den Abbeel E. and The Special Interest Group on Embryology: Atlas 27, Suppl. 1.
  • http://atlas.eshre.eu/
  • The Istanbul consensus workshop on embryo assessment: proceedings of an expert meeting. In Hum Reprod. 2011 Jun;26(6):1270-83.
  • In vitro fertilization. Edited by Kay Elder - Brian Dale. 2nd ed. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2000, xii, 310 p. ISBN 0521778638. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
The main element of the course will be practical teaching in the teaching laboratory, supplemented by an excursion to a clinical embryology laboratory. During the practical teaching, latex microspheres of various sizes (oocyte and sperm models), mouse oocytes, sperm, preimplantation embryos, and reproductive organs (or biological material from other animal species).
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
One hundred percent attendance at exercises is required. The course ends with a practical exam and a credit.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms spring 2024, spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/med/spring2026/EMAR0832c