GM_crops_alter_structure_and_function_of_liver.

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GMW:_GM_crops_alter_structure_and_function_of_liver,_new_research_shows

" GM_WATCH "

Thu, 27 May 2004 13:21:07 +0100

 

GM WATCH

http://www.gmwatch.org

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" The article below is a valuable article. It shows eating GM crops alters

structure and function of the liver. " - Prof Joe Cummins

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Cell Structure and Function

Vol. 27 (2002) , No. 4 pp.173-18

 

Ultrastructural Morphometrical and Immunocytochemical Analyses of Hepatocyte

Nuclei from Mice Fed on Genetically Modified Soybean

 

Manuela Malatesta1), Chiara Caporaloni1)2), Stefano Gavaudan2), Marco B.L.

Rocchi3), Sonja Serafini4), Cinzia Tiberi1) and Giancarlo Gazzanelli1)

 

1) Istituto di Istologia e Analisi di Laboratorio, via Zeppi s.n., University of

Urbino

2) Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche

3) Istituto di Biomatematica, Località Crocicchia, University of Urbino

4) Istituto di Chimica Biologica " G. Fornaini " , via Saffi 2, University of

Urbino

 

ABSTRACT. No direct evidence that genetically modified (GM) food may represent a

possible danger for health has been reported so far; however, the scientific

literature in this field is still quite poor. Therefore, we carried out an

ultrastructural morphometrical and immunocytochemical study on hepatocytes from

mice fed on GM soybean, in order to investigate eventual modifications of

nuclear components of these cells involved in multiple metabolic pathways

related to food processing. Our observations demonstrate significant

modifications of some nuclear features in GM-fed mice. In particular, GM

fed-mice show irregularly shaped nuclei, which generally represents an index of

high

metabolic rate, and a higher number of nuclear pores, suggestive of intense

molecular trafficking. Moreover, the roundish nucleoli of control animals change

in more irregular nucleoli with numerous small fibrillar centres and abundant

dense fibrillar component in GM-fed mice,

modifications typical of increased metabolic rate. Accordingly, nucleoplasmic

(snRNPs and SC-35) and nucleolar (fibrillarin) splicing factors are more

abundant in hepatocyte nuclei of GM-fed than in control mice. In conclusion, our

data suggest that GM soybean intake can influence hepatocyte nuclear features in

young and adult mice; however, the mechanisms responsible for such alterations

remain unknown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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