A long-term study on female mice fed on a genetically modified soybean: effects on liver ageing

Histochem Cell Biol (2008) 130This study demonstrates that GM soybean intake can influence some liver features during ageing.
67-977
DOI 10.1007/s00418-008-0476-x
ORIGINAL PAPER
 
A long-term study on female mice fed on a genetically modified soybean:
effects on liver ageing
 

* Manuela Malatesta  * Federica Boraldi  * Giulia Annovi  * Beatrice Baldelli

* SeraWna Battistelli  * Marco Biggiogera  * Daniela Quaglino
 
 
Accepted: 1 July 2008 / Published online: 22 July 2008
 
Abstract
 
Liver represents a suitable model for monitoring the effects of a diet,
due to its key role in controlling the whole metabolism. Although no
direct evidence has been reported so far that genetically modified (GM)
food may affect health, previous studies on hepatocytes from young
female mice fed on GM soybean demonstrated nuclear modifications
involving transcription and splicing pathways. In this study, the
effects of this diet were studied on liver of old female mice in order
to elucidate possible interference with ageing. The morpho-functional
characteristics of the liver of 24-month-old mice, fed from weaning on
control or GM soybean, were investigated by combining a proteomic
approach with ultrastructural, morphometrical and immunoelectron
microscopical analyses. Several proteins belonging to hepatocyte
metabolism, stress response, calcium signalling and mitochondria were
differentially expressed in GM-fed mice, indicating a more marked
expression of senescence markers in comparison to controls. Moreover,
hepatocytes of GM-fed mice showed mitochondrial and nuclear
modifications indicative of reduced metabolic rate. This study
demonstrates that GM soybean intake can influence some liver features
during ageing and, although the mechanisms remain unknown, underlines
the importance to investigate the long-term consequences of GM-diets and
the potential synergistic effects with ageing, xenobiotics and/or stress
conditions.
 
 
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