What happens to a mouse from poison? - briefly
Ingesting a toxic agent quickly interferes with the mouse’s cellular metabolism, causing seizures, respiratory collapse, and organ failure that culminate in death within minutes to a few hours, depending on the poison’s potency and amount.
What happens to a mouse from poison? - in detail
When a mouse ingests, inhales, or absorbs a toxic substance, the poison enters the bloodstream and is carried to vital organs. The speed of distribution depends on the chemical’s solubility, molecular size, and the animal’s metabolic rate, which is high in rodents.
At the cellular level, many poisons interfere with enzymatic pathways. For example, organophosphates inhibit acetylcholinesterase, causing excessive accumulation of acetylcholine at synapses. Heavy metals such as lead bind to sulfhydryl groups, disrupting protein function. Alkaloids like strychnine block inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors, leading to uncontrolled neuronal firing. These molecular actions produce systemic disturbances that manifest as observable symptoms.
Typical clinical signs progress in a recognizable sequence:
- Initial salivation, lacrimation, and nasal discharge.
- Tremors, muscle fasciculations, or convulsions.
- Respiratory distress, including rapid breathing or apnea.
- Cardiovascular collapse, characterized by hypotension and arrhythmias.
- Loss of consciousness followed by death if the dose exceeds the lethal threshold.
Organ failure follows the acute phase. The liver and kidneys, responsible for detoxification and excretion, accumulate toxic metabolites, leading to necrosis and loss of filtration capacity. The central nervous system suffers irreversible damage when excitotoxic pathways remain unchecked. In the final stage, systemic hypoxia and metabolic acidosis precipitate multi‑organ shutdown.
Survival depends on the poison’s potency, the administered dose, and the speed of intervention. Prompt decontamination, antidote administration, and supportive care can reverse early effects, but delayed treatment often results in irreversible injury and fatality.