Feeding genetically modified maize (MON810) to dairy cows: comparison of gene expression pattern of markers for apoptosis, inflammation and cell cycle

Abstract

Public concern has been expressed on the use of genetically modified (gm) maize MON810 as animal feed and for human consumption. Several studies have been conducted on potential effects of feeding MON810 to livestock focusing on animal performance, animal health and fate of recombinant DNA or protein. Though, no information on effects of feeding gm maize on the gene expression level is available so far. From 2005 until 2007, a study with 36 lactating dairy cows fed gm maize (N = 18, MON810) or the near-isogenic counterpart (N = 18) was carried out, investigating the fate of recombinant DNA and protein. After a period of 25 months, ten cows fed transgenic maize and seven cows fed near-isogenic maize were slaughtered due to operational reasons. In a short follow-up study, tissues of the gastrointestinal tract and samples from liver were used for gene expression analysis of major genes of the inflammation, cell cycle and apoptosis pathways. Statistical analysis of the examined gene expression pattern revealed no significant difference in the gene expression profile of cows fed transgenic or near-isogenic feed ration. Therefore, it can be assumed that compared to near-isogenic feed, gm maize MON810 does not have any effect on major genes involved in apoptosis, inflammation and cell cycle in the gastrointestinal tract and in the liver of dairy cows.