Taxol Improves Pre-Implantation Development Potential of Mouse Embryos

Aim: The objective of the present study was to investigate the development of mouse embryos and the chromosomal status after the pre-implantation treatment with paclitaxel (Taxol) based on the reports that indicate Taxol improves the developmental potential of vitrified human and mouse oocytes. Methods: Outbred female mice were superovulated and in vitro fertilization (IVF) was carried out using sperms from the same strain. Two-cell stage mouse embryos were cultured in the presence of Taxol for 24 h. After the determination of a non-toxic dose of Taxol, embryo development in control and Taxol-treated groups was compared during 3.5 days post-IVF. The aneuploidy rate of embryos was assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization for chromosomes 2 and 11. Results: Development to morula and blastocyst stages was considerably enhanced following the addition of Taxol 0.01 µM compared to a similar situation in controls (p < 0.0001). Moreover, the degeneration rate was decreased following treatment with this concentration of Taxol (p < 0.01). The rate of aneuploidy in embryos and individual blastomeres did not vary between groups (p = 0.518 and 0.810 respectively). Conclusion: Pre-implantation treatment with Taxol 0.01 µM had a positive effect on the development to morula/blastocyst stages and decreased the degeneration rate without affecting the aneuploidy rate of chromosomes 2 and 11.