Damaging Effect of Taxol on Mouse Spermatogenesis

Taxol produced a specific effect on mouse spermatocytes I and on stem spermatogonia, which leads to overall degeneration of spermatocytes I and long lasting disorders of spermatogenesis. Breaks of the axial and lateral elements of the synaptonemal complex, aneuploidies in spermatocytes in early, middle, and late pachytene, and accumulation of cells with associations of sex chromosomes and autosomes were observed, which attested to blockade of spermatogenesis in late pachytene and diplotene of meiosis prophase I. Mesna, a chemoprotective agent, reduced total toxicity and lethal effects of taxol, but did not prevent destruction of the testes.