Effects of nivalenol on pregnancy and fetal development of mice

Nivalenol (3,4,7,15-tetrahydroxy-12,13-epoxytrichothec-9-en-8-one) was injected intraperitoneally to pregnant mice at dose levels of 0, 0.1, 0.5 or 1.5 mg/kg b.w./day on days 7-15 of gestation. The highest dose caused stillbirths after vaginal hemorrhage in six of ten animals. High embryo lethality was recorded in the 2 highest dose groups (87.8 and 48.4%). No fetal malformations were observed in the test groups. A single administration of 3 mg/kg on day 7 affected the embryos within 10 hrs, damaged the placenta within 24 hrs, and revealed stillbirths at 48 hrs.