Vanadium(IV) oxide affects embryonic development in mice.

Vanadium(V) and vanadium(IV) are the predominant redox forms present in the environment, and epidemiological studies have reported that prenatal vanadium exposure is associated with restricted fetal growth and adverse birth outcomes. However, data about the toxic effects of vanadium(IV) oxide (V 2 O 4 ) on the development of mammals are still limited. Therefore, in this work, 4.7, 9.4, or 18.7 mg/kg body weight/injection/day V 2 O 4 was administered through an intraperitoneal (ip) injection to pregnant mice from gestational days 6 to 16. The results showed that V 2 O 4 produced maternal and embryo-fetal toxicity and external abnormalities in the offspring, such as malrotated and malpositioned hind limbs, hematomas and head injuries. Moreover, the skeletons of the fetuses presented reduced ossification of the cranial bones, including the frontal and parietal bones, corresponding to head injuries observed in the external assessment of the fetuses. These results demonstrate that administration of V 2 O 4 to pregnant females in the organogenesis period adversely affects embryonic development.