title: Effects of feeding Bt MON810 maize to sows during first gestation and lactation on maternal and offspring health indicators.
abstract: A total of twenty-four sows and their offspring were used in a 20-week study to investigate the effects of feeding GM maize on maternal and offspring health. Sows were fed diets containing GM or non-GM maize from service to the end of lactation. GM maize-fed sows were heavier on day 56 of gestation (P< 0·05). Offspring from sows fed GM maize tended to be lighter at weaning (P= 0·08). Sows fed GM maize tended to have decreased serum total protein (P= 0·08), and increased serum creatinine (P< 0·05) and γ-glutamyltransferase activity (P= 0·07) on day 28 of lactation. Serum urea tended to be decreased on day 110 of gestation in GM maize-fed sows (P= 0·10) and in offspring at birth (P= 0·08). Both platelet count (P= 0·07) and mean cell Hb concentration (MCHC; P= 0·05) were decreased on day 110 of gestation in GM maize-fed sows; however, MCHC tended to be increased in offspring at birth (P= 0·08). There was a minimal effect of feeding GM maize to sows during gestation and lactation on maternal and offspring serum biochemistry and haematology at birth and body weight at weaning.
authors.affiliation: Teagasc, Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Stefan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Buzoianu
authors.forename: Gillian E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.forename: Mary C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rea
authors.forename: Orla
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: O'Donovan
authors.forename: R Paul
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Peadar G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Lawlor
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001823:Body Composition; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000235:genetics; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006304:Health Status; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007774:Lactation; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000502:physiology*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001798:Blood Proteins; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis; D003404:Creatinine