Electron spin resonance assessment of susceptibility of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) to oilseed rape (Brassica napus) poisoning.

Ex vivo studies have been carried out on roe and red deer erythrocytes using electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Free radical formation in cells challenged with the brassica-derived haemolysin, dimethyldisulphide, was measured using spin trapping techniques. Significantly greater amounts of radical were trapped in the roe deer cells which may relate to differences in the antioxidant profile of the two genotypes. Results suggest that roe deer have a greater risk of developing oilseed rape poisoning than red deer.