Post‐Warming Competence of In Vivo Matured Rabbit Oocytes Treated with Cytoskeletal Stabilization (Taxol) and Cytoskeletal Relaxant (Cytochalasin B) Before Vitrification

• Published in: Reproduction in domestic animals 2013-02, Vol.48 (1), p.15-19
• Main Authors: Jiménez‐Trigos, E, Naturil‐Alfonso, C, Vicente, JS, Marco‐Jiménez, F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal reproduction; Animals; Cell Survival - drug effects; chromosomes; confocal laser scanning microscopy; Cryopreservation - methods; Cryopreservation - veterinary; cytochalasin B; Cytochalasin B - pharmacology; Cytoskeleton; Cytoskeleton - drug effects; Embryo Culture Techniques - veterinary; Embryos; Female; Fertilization in Vitro - veterinary; Oocytes; paclitaxel; Paclitaxel - pharmacology; parthenogenesis; Rabbits; Reproductive technologies; Tubulin Modulators - pharmacology; Vitrification
• ISSN: 0936-6768; 1439-0531
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2012.02018.x

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Taxol and Cytochalasin B on the spindle, chromosome configuration and development to blastocyst stage after parthenogenesis activation of in vivo matured rabbit oocytes after vitrification. Oocytes were randomized into four groups: oocytes treated with Cytochalasin B or Taxol before vitrification, oocytes without treatment before vitrification and fresh oocytes. Oocytes were vitrified using Cryotop method, and meiotic spindle and chromosomal distribution were assessed with a confocal laser scanning microscopy. To determine oocyte competence, in vitro development of oocytes was assessed with parthenogenesis activation. There were no significant differences in the frequencies of normal spindle (33.0%, 31.0% and 32.6%, for non‐treated, Taxol‐treated and Cytochalasin B‐treated oocytes, respectively) and chromosome (48.3%, 46.6% and 34.8%, for non‐treated, Taxol‐treated oocytes and Cytochalasin B‐treated oocytes respectively) in vitrified groups, but significantly lower than those of fresh group (89.7% and 90.2%, for normal spindle and chromosome organization, respectively). No statistical differences were found in the cleavage and blastocyst development rates between non‐treated and Taxol‐treated oocytes (7.7% and 1.5% and 13.7% and 4.6%, for non‐treated and Taxol‐treated oocytes, respectively), although they were significantly lower than in the fresh group (42.3% and 32.1%, for cleavage and blastocyst development, respectively). Oocytes treated with Cytochalasin B failed to reach blastocyst stage. Normal spindle, chromosome configuration and blastocyst development of in vivo matured rabbit oocytes were damaged in vitrification, which was not improved by Taxol and Cytochalasin B pre‐treatment before vitrification. Moreover, a detrimental effect on blastocyst development of Cytochalasin B pre‐treatment before vitrification was observed.