EFFECTS OF MATERNAL VANADATE TREATMENT ON FETAL DEVELOPMENT

Oral vanadate treatment is effective in normalizing blood glucose in b oth Type I and Type II diabetics. Using Sprague Dawley rats we examine d the effectiveness of such treatment in amelioration of hyperglycemia in diabetic pregnancy and its effect on fetal growth in both normal a nd diabetic pregnant dams. Initiation of vanadate treatment to diabeti c and normal pregnant dams increased blood vanadium levels in both gro ups, but this concentration in the diabetic pregnant group reached app roximately twice the value present in the normal group. Despite this h igh blood vanadium level in the diabetic pregnant dams, oral vanadate treatment was not effective in normalizing blood sugar in this group, Additionally, vanadate treatment was found to be toxic during diabetic pregnancy, causing death to 45% of the test animals. Maternal blood v anadium had a negative effect on fetal development, markedly reducing the number of live fetuses per pregnancy. In summary, oral vanadate tr eatment is toxic and ineffective during diabetic pregnancies and inter feres with fetal growth and development in both normal and diabetic pr egnancy.