gerhard van der horst

New ventures in sperm motility

By |2019-04-29T10:50:03+02:00April 29th, 2019|Blog|

New ventures in our understanding of sperm functionality In 2016 I wrote a blog on standardization of semen analysis in humans but with the emphasis on reviewing sperm motility analysis since the 1600’s until 2016. I showed the importance of standardization of quantitative semen analyses and the power of CASA in assisting [...]

Bee sperm

By |2019-01-16T15:42:07+01:00January 16th, 2019|Blog|

Bees are Keystone species: Urgent need to study their sperm quality, preserve the sperm and inseminate best quality Fig. 1: Fynbos (meaning plants with small leaves) area near Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa. What is a keystone species? A keystone species is a plant or animal species that plays a [...]

SCA has many other applications

By |2018-12-18T09:19:14+01:00December 18th, 2018|Blog|

SCA is firstly a top class Computer Aided Semen Analysis System: But it has many other applications. What are these? The Sperm Class Analyzer (SCA) of Microptic S.L. needs no introduction and has earned a reputation as the most advanced CASA system providing the widest range of modules to analyse many facets [...]

New CASA in East Africa: Tanzania

By |2018-11-30T09:17:33+01:00November 21st, 2018|Blog|

A new CASA system for East Africa, Tanzania, for the National Artificial Insemination Centre: A unique situation! Fig. 1: Entrance to NAIC with administrative quarters and laboratories. In Tanzania and elsewhere in Africa there is a great need to improve the quality of livestock in general and particulalrly cattle such [...]

Declining sperm count

By |2018-10-18T16:42:34+02:00October 18th, 2018|Blog|

Human zero sperm count in the next generation: Really? What are the facts? The aspect of declining sperm count has been debated over many decades and is very controversial. Recently Dr Haqgai Levine presented a paper at the 13th International Symposium on Spermatology in Stockholm that sperm numbers are declining and represent [...]

Successful edition of ESHRE in Barcelona – July 10th

By |2018-07-18T09:31:10+02:00July 10th, 2018|News|

Barcelona, our city, hosted the 34rd Annual Meeting of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in which Microptic participated with an innovative booth. At this special edition our company presented the new SCA SCOPE, a lab equipment for semen assessment that comprises both software and hardware. Thus, analysis can be [...]

Reflections after ISS 2018

By |2018-06-19T11:22:04+02:00June 19th, 2018|Blog|

Three participants at XIII International Symposium on Spermatology explain to us their thoughts on the event: Prof Gerhard van der Horst, Prof Stefan du Plessis and Dr Liana Maree. Representing your country and institution at any international conference is always a great honour, but with that also comes a [...]

Rabbit sperm, new blog entry – May 14th

By |2022-08-30T08:53:35+02:00May 14th, 2018|News|

Not Easter bunnies or hares, but rabbit reproduction and sperm There is a new focus on rabbits in terms of their so called prolific breeding rate, huge demand for rabbit meat production globally, but also ethical issues in terms of animal experimentation in medical research. Hares and rabbits are in the same [...]

Rabbit sperm

By |2022-08-30T11:50:50+02:00May 14th, 2018|Blog|

Not Easter bunnies or hares, but rabbit reproduction and sperm Fig. 1: Captive bred rabbits There is a new focus on rabbits in terms of their so called prolific breeding rate, huge demand for rabbit meat production globally, but also ethical issues in terms of animal experimentation in medical research. [...]