Research overview: intracytoplasmic sperm injection in the domestic cat

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg, offers a route to fertilization when sperm are scarce or of poor quality. This overview surveys the development of this technique in the domestic cat, used as a model for felid reproduction, and its potential for species with severe teratospermia such as the cheetah. It reviews how injection bypasses the need for many functional sperm, the efficiency of resulting fertilization and embryo development, and the technical demands of the procedure. The review connects this technology to genome banking, where a few preserved sperm could yield offspring. Understanding intracytoplasmic sperm injection illustrates how micromanipulation extends the reach of assisted reproduction in cats.