Isolation and manipulation of mouse gametes and embryos

Many experimental approaches to answer questions about mammalian development begin with the isolation of mouse gametes and/or embryos. Here, methods used to isolate and store growing and fully-grown oocytes, ovulated (unfertilized) eggs, cleavage-stage embryos, and sperm from mice are described. Procedures used to carry out capacitation of sperm, binding of sperm to oocytes and ovulated eggs, and induction and assessment of the acrosome reaction in vitro are also described.