Instructing the animal physiology graduate student in human assisted reproductive technology

Animal physiology graduate students provide an excellent personnel resource for laboratories performing human assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures. However, the basic training of these students falls short of what is required for this highly specialized field. We designed a course to enhance their education in this area via classroom and hands-on laboratory instruction in a hospital and university setting. Topics covered in the course included in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization, embryo culture, embryo transfer, quality control, quality assurance, micromanipulation, and cryopreservation. These techniques were applied to a group project to evaluate the influence of spermatozoal quality and quantity on early embryonic development in cattle and humans. Student grades were based on 1) oral and written examinations; 2) demonstrated competency in laboratory techniques; 3) presentation of class project data at a state academy of science meeting; and 4) initiative, determination, and interest in the coursework. Three aspects of the course stood out as very positive. First, the team approach to accomplishing a class project was new to some of the graduate students. Second, a bond was formed between hospital- and university-based faculty that did and will continue to foster unique teaching and research opportunities between the two groups. Third, the opportunity for students to present research data in a formal setting was very rewarding. This course made the students keenly aware of the many aspects of ART and provided them with specialized skills that should make them more marketable in the field of reproductive technology.