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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

BioMEMS and Cellular Biology: Perspectives and Applications
Published on: October 1, 2007
Current perspectives of CASA applications in diverse mammalian spermatozoa
Gerhard van der Horst1, Liana Maree1, Stefan S du Plessis2
1Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.
Abstract:
Since the advent of computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) some four decades ago, advances in computer technology and software algorithms have helped establish it as a research and diagnostic instrument for the analysis of spermatozoa. Despite mammalian spermatozoa being the most diverse cell type known, CASA is a great tool that has the capacity to provide rapid, reliable and objective quantitative assessment of sperm quality. This paper provides contemporary research findings illustrating the scientific and commercial applications of CASA and its ability to evaluate diverse mammalian spermatozoa (human, primates, rodents, domestic mammals, wildlife species) at both structural and functional levels. The potential of CASA to quantitatively measure essential aspects related to sperm subpopulations, hyperactivation, morphology and morphometry is also demonstrated. Furthermore, applications of CASA are provided for improved mammalian sperm quality assessment, evaluation of sperm functionality and the effect of different chemical substances or pathologies on sperm fertilising ability. It is clear that CASA has evolved significantly and is currently superior to many manual techniques in the research and clinical setting.
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