Abstract:

Researchers conducted controlled laboratory exposures of mice exposed to Deepwater Horizon oil. Mice were orally exposed to Louisiana sweet crude oil MC252 three times per week for 6 weeks, at a dose of approximately 0.1% body weight per day. After oil exposure, histopathology was performed on tissues (lungs, adrenals, kidneys, liver, reproductive tract, and heart) of adult mice exposed to oil and control mice to assess the presence of lesions specifically associated with oil exposure.

Suggested Citation:

De Guise, Sylvain, Kathleen Colegrove, Milton Levin, and Lindsay Jasperse. 2021. Mouse histopathology following experimental oil exposure. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/PE35B262

Purpose:

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

Data Parameters and Units:

Animal.ID Unique mouse identifier Group Exposed to oil or unexposed control Exam.ID Identification number for each histopathology case Lung.Lesion Indicates whether case has any lung lesions. Present or Absent. Lung.Epithelial.Damage Indicates whether case has the lesion of damage to lung epithelial cells. Present or Absent. Lung.Pneumonia Indicates whether case has the lesion of pneumonia. Present or Absent. Lung.hemorrhage Indicates whether case has the lesion of lung hemorrhage. Present or Absent. Lung.lesion.severity Indicates severity of lung lesions. Mild, Moderate or Severe. Adrenal.Lesion Indicates whether case has any adrenal lesions. Present or Absent. Adrenal.corticocyte.vacuolation Indicates whether case has the lesion of adrenal corticocyte vacuolation. Present or Absent. CM.ratio Indicates the ratio of the thickness of the adrenal cortex over that of the adrenal medulla. Kidney.Lesion Indicates whether case has any kidney lesion. Present or Absent. Liver.Lesion Indicates whether case has any liver lesion. Present or Absent. Reproductive.tract.lesion Indicates whether case has any reproductive track lesion. Present or Absent. Heart.Lesion Indicates whether case has any cardiac lesion. Present or Absent. Heart.necrosis Indicates whether case has the lesion of cardiomyocyte necrosis. Present or Absent. Heart.necrosis.chronicity Indicates the chronicity of cardiomyocyte necrosis. Percute, Acute or Chronic. Heart.necrosis.severity Indicates the severity of cardiomyocyte necrosis. Minimal, Mild, Moderate or Severe. Heart.Fibrosis Indicates whether case has the lesion of cardiac fibrosis. Present or Absent. Report.generated Indicates whether case has the lesion of cardiomyocyte nuclear rowing. Present or Absent. NOTE General notes during histopathologic examination

Methods:

Mice were exposed to oil via gavage. Mice were orally exposed to Louisiana sweet crude oil MC252 three times per week for 6 weeks, at a dose of approximately 0.1% body weight per day. Following exposure, the direct effects of oil exposure was measured (compared to unexposed controls) in key tissues that may be impacted by oil exposure. Tissues evaluated histologically for lesions include lungs, adrenals, kidneys, liver, reproductive tract, and heart.

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