title: Long-term toxicity study on genetically modified corn with cry1Ac gene in a Wuzhishan miniature pig model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of the present study was to investigate the chronic effect of transgenic maize lines by the insertion of the cry1Ac gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) on the growth performance, immune response and health using a Wuzhishan miniature pig model through a 196-day feeding study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the gender and weight, 72 Wuzhishan miniature pigs were randomly assigned one of the diets containing 65% non-transgenic isogenic corn or Bt corn at three stages of growth (day 0-69, 70-134 and 135-196). The potential toxicological effects of transgenic corn on pigs were explored. No difference between the diet treatments for growth performance and haematology parameters at any stages of growth. Although subtle differences in serum content of alanine aminotransferase, relative kidney weight and some immune response were observed between the Bt group and isogenic group, they were not considered as diet treatment-related.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term feeding Bt corn carrying cry1Ac genes to Wuzhishan miniature pigs did not indicate adverse effects on the growth, immune response and health indicators at any stages of growth. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.|Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Sciences, Hainan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, 571100, China.
authors.forename: Quanwei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Ruqing
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Sciences, Hainan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, 571100, China.
authors.forename: Shuyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 10050, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Hongfu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000235:genetics; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007668:Kidney / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D015430:Weight Gain; D003313:Zea mays / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis
keywords: corn; cry1Ac; miniature pig; safety; transgenic crop