Subchronic Toxicological Evaluation of Xiushui 134Bt Transgenic Insect-Resistant Rice in Rats

Abstract

In this study, Xiushui 134Bt, a highly insect-resistant rice transgenic material with stable expression of CryIAc1 gene in rice plants and no significant changes in main agronomic traits, was obtained by means of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method using japonica rice Xiushui 134 as receptor material. Biosecurity of the transgenic rice Xiushui 134Bt was assessed by rat feeding experiments. Wistar rats were fed a nutritionally balanced diet supplemented with 35% Genetically Modified (LGM) or 70% Genetically Modified (HGM) Xiushui 134Bt, respectively, for 90 days. Compared with the wild-type group (Xiushui 134), there were no significant differences in body weight, total food intake, food conversion rate, relative organ weight, blood routine, blood physiological or biochemical parameters, or histopathological examination between LGM and HGM Bt groups (p > 0.05). These results indicate that the transgenic rice Xiushui 134Bt is non-toxic in laboratory animals and provide guidance for the future commercial release of the transgenic rice Xiushui 134Bt in China.