Effects of ammonium metavanadate on fertility and reproductive performance of adult male and female rats

Vanadium is a ubiquitous trace metal present in most plant and animal tissues. Environmental exposure to trivalent and pentavalent inorganic vanadium compounds has been related to impaired different phases of reproduction. Therefore, the effects of a pentavalent inorganic vanadium compound on general reproductive performance and fertility were investigated in male and female rats. Sexually mature male and female rats were exposed to 200 ppm ammonium metavanadate in drinking water. Male rats were exposed for 70 days, while the female rats exposed for 14 days premating, during mating, and throughout the whole length of gestation and lactation periods till weaning. The effects on male sex organ weights and fertility were evaluated at the end of exposure period. However, the effects on female fertility as well as developmental and postnatal effects were evaluated throughout the exposure period. The fertility was significantly reduced in both treated groups, with more pronounced suppressive effects in the male treated group. The number of implantation sites and the number of viable fetuses were significantly reduced in pregnant females of both treated groups. However, the number of resorptions, dead fetuses, and pre- and postimplantation losses were significantly increased. The incidence of resorptions was significantly increased in treated female group compared with untreated female group. The behavioral responses as well as fetal survival and viability indices were decreased in both treated groups during the lactation period. The incidence of these effects was more pronounced in the treated female group. The morphological, visceral, and skeletal anomalies were recorded significantly increased in fetuses of both treated groups, with more pronounced effects on fetuses of treated females. In conclusion, the exposure of adult male and female rats to ammonium metavanadate would cause adverse effects on fertility and reproduction. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.