Oxidative damage in the Vesper mouse (Calomys laucha) exposed to a simulated oil spill-a multi-organ study

Small wild mammals have been used to measure the damage caused by exposure to oil-contaminated soil, including deer mice. However, the study of toxic effects of crude oil using oxidative damage biomarkers in the wild rodent Calomys laucha (Vesper mouse) is absent. This investigation aimed to evaluate the effects of acute exposure to contaminated soil with different concentrations of crude oil (0, 1, 2, 4 and 8% w/w), simulating an accidental spill, using oxidative stress biomarkers in the liver, kidneys, lungs, testes, paw muscle, and lymphocytes of C. laucha. Animals exposed to the contaminated soil showed increases in lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation at the highest exposure concentrations in most organ homogenates analyzed and also in blood cells, but responses to total antioxidant capacity were tissue-dependent. These results showed that acute exposure to oil-contaminated soil caused oxidative damage in C. laucha and indicate these small mammals may be susceptible to suffer the impacts of such contamination in its occurrence region, threatening the species' survival.

Automated summary

Small wild mammals, such as deer mice, have been used to measure the damage caused by exposure to oil-contaminated soil. However, there is currently no research on the toxic effects of crude oil using oxidative damage biomarkers in the wild rodent Calomys laucha (Vesper mouse). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of acute exposure to different concentrations of crude oil-contaminated soil on C. laucha using oxidative stress biomarkers. The results showed that acute exposure to oil-contaminated soil caused oxidative damage in C. laucha, indicating that these small mammals may be susceptible to the impacts of such contamination in their habitat, posing a threat to their survival.