How does poison kill a mouse?

How does poison kill a mouse? - briefly

Toxic compounds disrupt essential physiological functions, such as blood clotting or nerve transmission, leading to rapid organ failure. The resulting internal hemorrhage or paralysis quickly proves fatal for the rodent.

How does poison kill a mouse? - in detail

Rodenticide introduced into a mouse’s system is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract, enters the bloodstream, and reaches target tissues where it interferes with essential biochemical pathways. The lethal process varies with the chemical class of the poison.

• Anticoagulant agents (e.g., warfarin, brodifacoum).

  1. Inhibit vitamin K epoxide reductase, preventing regeneration of active vitamin K.
  2. Impair synthesis of clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X.
  3. Blood loses the ability to coagulate, leading to internal hemorrhage, especially in the lungs, brain, and gastrointestinal organs.
  4. Clinical signs appear 24–72 hours after ingestion; death follows when blood loss reaches a critical threshold.

• Neurotoxic compounds (e.g., strychnine, bromethalin).

  1. Block inhibitory neurotransmission (strychnine antagonizes glycine receptors; bromethalin disrupts mitochondrial ATP production).
  2. Result in uncontrolled neuronal firing, muscle spasms, and seizures.
  3. Respiratory muscles become exhausted, causing asphyxiation within minutes to a few hours.

• Metabolic poisons (e.g., zinc phosphide, phosphoric acid).

  1. React with stomach acid to release phosphine gas.
  2. Phosphine penetrates cell membranes, inhibits cytochrome c oxidase in mitochondria.
  3. Cellular respiration collapses, leading to multi‑organ failure and death within 2–6 hours.

• Metal‑based agents (e.g., arsenic, copper sulfate).

  1. Bind sulfhydryl groups of enzymes, disrupting protein function.
  2. Cause oxidative stress, hemolysis, and gastrointestinal ulceration.
  3. Fatal outcomes develop over several hours, accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, and cardiovascular collapse.

The dose required for mortality, known as the LD₅₀, differs among compounds and is influenced by the mouse’s size, age, and health status. Sublethal exposure may produce observable symptoms such as lethargy, tremors, bleeding, or convulsions before irreversible damage occurs. Ultimately, the poison’s mode of action—whether it halts clotting, overstimulates the nervous system, impairs energy production, or damages cellular proteins—determines the cascade of physiological failures that culminate in death.