Intracytoplasmisk

Intracytoplasmisk is an adjective used in biology to describe something that occurs inside the cytoplasm of a cell—the fluid-filled region between the plasma membrane and the nucleus. The cytoplasm encompasses the cytosol, organelles such as mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum, and various cytoskeletal elements. In this sense, intracytoplasmisk indicates an activity, location, or process that takes place within the cytoplasmic compartment, as opposed to outside the cell or within the nucleus.

In medical and research contexts, intracytoplasmic techniques involve delivering material directly into the cytoplasm. The most well-known example is intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a form of assisted reproduction in which a single sperm is injected into the cytoplasm of an oocyte to achieve fertilization. Cytoplasmic microinjection is also used to introduce DNA, RNA, proteins, or other substances into oocytes, embryos, or cultured cells for gene expression studies, genetic modification, or developmental biology experiments. These approaches are distinct from intranuclear injections, which deliver material into the nucleus.

Clinically, ICSI is employed primarily for male-factor infertility or prior fertilization failures and is typically performed alongside other assisted reproductive technologies such as controlled ovarian stimulation and embryo transfer. Outcomes depend on multiple factors, but since its introduction in the 1990s, ICSI has become a standard technique in reproductive medicine and has contributed to high fertilization rates. Ethical, legal, and regulatory considerations vary by jurisdiction.