Abstract:

Researchers conducted controlled laboratory exposures of adult mice to Deepwater Horizon oil. After exposure, the mice were allowed to mate, and then researchers compared reproductive success in control groups versus exposed groups.

Suggested Citation:

De Guise, Sylvain, Milton Levin, and Lindsay Jasperse. 2020. Reproductive success of laboratory strain mice exposed to Deepwater Horizon oil. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-np2g-r569

Purpose:

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the direct effects of oil to investigate the cause and effect relationship (in mice) and strengthen the weight of evidence between the changes observed in live dolphins and oil exposure.

Data Parameters and Units:

Animal.ID= Unique mouse identifier (for mothers); Group= Exposed to oil or unexposed control; Litter_DOB= Date the litter was born; Live_litter_size= Total number of pups live at birth; Total_litter_size= Total number of pups in the litter (live or dead at birth); Litter.size= Total number of pups live at birth; Pup.ID= ID number of the pup in the litter (pups picked in random order for weight determination). IDs are only unique within each litter (not across the study). Pup.weight_g= Weight of each pup in grams at weaning

Methods:

Mice were exposed to oil via gavage. Following exposure, researchers mated exposed and control female mice to unexposed male mice. We assessed the effects of oil exposure on reproduction by monitoring litter size (the number of live pups and the number of total [live and dead] pups), as well as the weight of offspring at weaning (21 days).

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