Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Biochemistry Section, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.
Transgenic Res. 2010 Jun;19(3):511-8. doi: 10.1007/s11248-009-9317-5. Epub 2009 Aug 19.
Transformation of agricultural crops with novel genes has significantly advanced disease-resistance breeding, including virus resistance through the expression of virus sequences. In this study, the effects of long-term, repeated exposure to transgenic papayas carrying the coat protein gene of Papaya ringspot virus and conventional non-transgenic papaya on the histology and selected biochemical parameters of the intestinal tract were compared. For 3 months, male and female Wistar rats received diets containing transgenic or non-transgenic papaya at twice the equivalent of the average daily consumption of fresh papayas. Gross and macroscopic appearance of intestinal tissues, as well as stomach tissues, was comparable (P < 0.05) as were total intestinal bacterial counts and activities of beta-glucuronidase. Activities of disaccharidases were not affected, neither were those of amylase (P < 0.05). Although significant differences were noted in the activity of Ca(2+) and Na(+)/K(+) ATPase brush border enzymes, no morphological alteration in the integrity of the intestinal mucosa was found. Overall, negligible effects on feed intake, body weight, and fecal output were observed (P < 0.05). Taken together, long-term exposure to diets formulated with transgenic papaya did not result in biologically important unintended effects.
利用新型基因对农作物进行转化，显著推进了抗病性育种，包括通过表达病毒序列来提高抗病毒能力。在这项研究中，比较了长期、重复暴露于携带木瓜环斑病毒外壳蛋白基因的转基因木瓜和常规非转基因木瓜对肠道组织学和选定生化参数的影响。雄性和雌性 Wistar 大鼠连续 3 个月摄入相当于其平均每日新鲜木瓜消耗量两倍的量的转基因或非转基因木瓜饲料。肠道组织和胃组织的大体和宏观外观（P < 0.05）、总肠道细菌计数和β-葡萄糖醛酸酶活性没有差异。淀粉酶（P < 0.05）的活性不受影响，二糖酶的活性也不受影响。尽管钙（Ca2+）和钠（Na+）/钾（K+）ATP 酶刷状缘酶的活性存在显著差异，但肠道黏膜的完整性没有形态改变。总的来说，饲料摄入量、体重和粪便排出量没有明显变化（P < 0.05）。综合来看，长期摄入含有转基因木瓜的饲料不会产生具有生物学重要性的意外影响。
