Effects of GM Virus-Resistant Papaya on Rat Guts
September 4, 2009| |
Results of a study conducted by researchers at the University of West Indies in Jamaica revealed that transgenic papaya varieties, engineered to resist the papaya ringspot virus, are as safe as their conventional counterparts in terms of their effects on the gastrointestinal tract of lab rats. Melissa Powell and colleagues investigated the effects on laboratory rats of long-term, repeated exposure to transgenic papayas, specifically focusing on the histology and selected biochemical parameters (enzyme activities) of the intestinal tract.
The researchers found "no morphological alteration in the integrity of the intestinal mucosa" in lab rats fed with fruits of transgenic papaya varieties. They also observed "negligible effects on feed intake, body weight, and fecal output." Lastly, the transgenic papaya-containing diet was found not to affect the intestinal microbial count and the activities of the enzymes β-glucuronidase, disaccharidases and amylase.
The study published by Transgenic Research is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11248-009-9317-5
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