title: Comparative effects of dietary administered transgenic and conventional papaya on selected intestinal parameters in rat models.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Biochemistry Section, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Andrew O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Wheatley
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Omoruyi
authors.forename: Helen N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Asemota
authors.forename: Nadia P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Paula F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Tennant
mesh_terms: D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D029441:Carica / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D004186:Disaccharidases / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008871:Microvilli / Q000201:enzymology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D017800:Potyvirus; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000681:Amylases; D004186:Disaccharidases; D005966:Glucuronidase; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D002118:Calcium
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