Sperm penetration of live and dead (rapidly frozen to −196 °C) porcine follicular oocytes was studied by transferring combinations of fluorescein isothiocyanate-stained (S) and nonstained (NS) live and dead eggs into the oviducts of tubally-inseminated gilts. All oocytes to be transferred were recovered from preovulatory follicles of gonadotropin-treated gilts via ovariectomy or follicular aspiration in situ. Only oocytes with a full complement of expanded cumulus were used. They were rendered nonviable by plunging semen straws containing S or NS oocytes into liquid nitrogen and storing them for at least 7 days before rapid thawing. The freeze–thaw cycle, without cryopreservative, resulted in numerous ruptures of the vitelline membrane and presumably the death of all oocytes examined. However, the zona pellucida and cumulus cell mass remained intact. Neither freezing nor staining affected ova recovery post-transfer or sperm penetration. Upon recovery, sperm slits and similar numbers of accessory sperm were observed in the zonae of both frozen–thawed and freshly transferred oocytes. Polyspermy was not observed.