A 90-day safety study of genetically modified rice expressing Cry1Ab protein (Bacillus thuringiensis toxin) in Wistar rats.
An animal model for safety assessment of genetically modified foods was tested as part of the SAFOTEST project. In a 90-day feeding study on Wistar rats, the transgenic KMD1 rice expressing Cry1Ab protein was compared to its non-transgenic parental wild type, Xiushui 11. The KMD1 rice contained 15mg Bt toxin/kg and based on the average feed consumption the daily intake was 0.54mg Bt toxin/kg body weight. No adverse effects on animal behaviour or weight gain were observed during the study. Blood samples collected one week prior to sacrifice were analyzed and compared for standard haematological and biochemical parameters. A few parameters were significantly different, but all within the normal reference intervals for rats of this breed and age and not in relation to any other findings, thus not considered treatment related. Upon sacrifice a large number of organs were weighed, macroscopic and histopathological examinations were performed with only minor changes to report. The aim of the study was to use a known animal model in performance of safety assessment of a GM crop, in this case KMD1 rice. The results show no adverse or toxic effects of KMD1 rice when tested in the design used in this 90-day study. Nevertheless the experiences from this study lead to the overall conclusion that safety assessment for unintended effects of a GM crop cannot be done without additional test group(s).
Schrøder
Malene
M
Department of Toxicology and Risk Assessment, Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research, Mørkhøj Bygade 19, DK-2860 Søborg, Denmark.
Poulsen
Morten
M
Wilcks
Andrea
A
Kroghsbo
Stine
S
Miller
Andreas
A
Frenzel
Thomas
T
Danier
Jürgen
J
Rychlik
Michael
M
Emami
Kaveh
K
Gatehouse
Angharad
A
Shu
Qingyao
Q
Engel
Karl-Heinz
KH
Altosaar
Illimar
I
Knudsen
Ib
I
D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000235:genetics*; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000633:toxicity; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018675:Toxicity Tests
D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis