Toxicological evaluation of transgenic silkworms

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Toxicology
• Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Background:

• Commercial application of transgenic silkworms requires rigorous safety evaluation.
• Assessing the subacute toxicity of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is crucial for consumer safety.
• Previous research has not fully established the safety profile of transgenic silkworm consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the subacute toxicity of transgenic silkworm pupae in a rodent model.
• To determine if transgenic silkworms overexpressing Bmhsp19.9 or SOR are toxicologically equivalent to normal silkworms.
• To provide data supporting the potential commercial application of transgenic silkworms.

Main Methods:

• A 28-day feeding study was conducted on 80 rats (10 male, 10 female per group).
• Four groups were established: transgenic silkworm H19.9A, transgenic silkworm A4SOR, normal silkworm pupae, and a normal feeding control.
• Animals were fed a dose of 3.0 g/kg/day, and parameters including body weight, feed consumption, hematology, serum biochemistry, organ weights, gross necropsy, and histopathology were assessed.

Main Results:

• No mortality or adverse effects were observed in any of the experimental groups.
• No significant differences were found in body weight, feed consumption, hematological parameters, serum biochemical markers, or organ weights between transgenic and control groups.
• Gross necropsy and histopathological examinations revealed no treatment-related abnormalities in rats fed transgenic silkworm pupae.

Conclusions:

• Transgenic silkworms, H19.9A and A4SOR, demonstrated no subacute toxicity in rats.
• The evaluated transgenic silkworms are toxicologically equivalent to their normal counterparts.
• The findings suggest that transgenic silkworms are safe for consumption, paving the way for their commercial use.