A new method to produce equally sized hemizonae pellucidae for the hemizona assay

The hemizona assay (HZA) is a valuable tool to study the binding potential and interaction of spermatozoa with the zona pellucida. Its accuracy strongly depends on the use of equally sized hemizonae. Usually, manipulator-guided microblades are used for cutting the zona pellucida. Recently, lasers were introduced for precise local thermolysis of the zona. The use of a 1.48 microm diode laser for the generation of hemizonae from human oocytes was investigated. This laser allowed drilling of equally sized hemizonae which were used for hemizona binding assays. It is concluded that the 1.48 microm diode laser system can be applied for the production of hemizonae. The method is easy to perform and offers a fast and efficient access to hemizonae of identical size.