Keywords: 
• paclitaxel /
• reproductive toxicity /
• rats

Abstract: Paclitaxel,an antineoplastic agent,was administered intravenously to rats daily at dose levels of 0(saline and vehicle),0.1,0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg for 63 days prior to mating and during the wating period in males,and for 14 days prior to mating and during the mating period as well as day 0 to 7 of gestation in females. The results manifest that 1.0mg/kg Paclitaxel caused suppression of the body weight gains accompanied by the decreased food consumption in either male or female rats. Adrenal and ovarian weight were decreased in 1.0mg/kg dams at term. The fertility indices in both sexes of 1.0mg/kg were lower than the saline-treated group. However,the copulation indices in both sexes in 1.0 mg/kg rats were comparable to those of the saline-treated group.Decreases in the number of corpora lutea, implantations and live futuses or increases in the number fo empty implantation sits and total embryofetal deaths were observed in 1.0mg/kg dams. However, the fetal weights, crown-rump distances and tail lengths in live fetuses were not affected by paclitaxel treatment.