The intake of water containing a mix of pollutants at environmentally relevant concentrations leads to defensive response deficit in male C57B1/6J mice

Previous studies have individually confirmed the toxic effects from different pollutants on mammals. However. effects resulting from the exposure of these animals to multi-pollutant mixes have not been studied so far. Thus, the aim of the current study is to assess the effect from the chronic exposure (105 days) of C57B1/6J mice to a mix of pollutants on their response to potential predators. In order to do so, the following groups were formed: "control", "Mix 1x [compounds from 15 pollutants identified in surface waters at environmentally relevant concentration (ERC)]", "Mix 10x" and "Mix 25x" (concentrations 10 and 25 times higher than the ERC). From the 100th experimental day on, the animals were subjected to tests in order to investigate whether they showed locomotor, visual, olfactory and auditory changes, since these abilities are essential to their antipredatory behavior. Next, the animals' behavior towards potential predators (Fells catus and Pantherophis guttatus) was assessed. The herein collected data did not show defensive response from any of the experimental groups to the predatory stimulus provided by P. guffaws. However, the control animals, only, presented antipredatory behavior when F. catus was introduced in the apparatus, fact that suggests defensive response deficit resulting from the treatments. Thus, the current study is pioneer in showing that the chronic intake of water containing a mix of pollutants (even at low concentrations) leads to behavioral disorders able to affect the survival and population dynamics of mammalian species at ecological level. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.