Respostas biológica, sistêmica e reprodutiva de ratos Wistar alimentados com soja geneticamente modificada resistente ao glifosato

Abstract

The most cultivated genetically modified plant in Brazil is the soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] resistant to the systemic herbicide glyphosate. There are 12.3 millions of cultivated hectares. This soybean was obtained through the introduction of the gene that codes for the 5-enolpyruyilshikimic-acid3-phosphate synthase enzyme, (EPSPS, E.C 2.5.1.19, CP4), of the shikimic pathway, resistant to glyphosate that keeps active the aromatic amino acids biosynthetic pathway. To the soybean genetical modification the parameters in law were reviewed and the maximum glyphosate limit permitted in beans that was 0.2 mg/kg was increased to 10 mg/kg to GMRR soybean. Although Brazil is the 3rd biggest worldwide producer, cultivates the GMRR soybean for more than ten years, and represents 50% of the overall production of soybean in Brazil, just a few studies have been conducted in the country to evaluate in biological assays, the impact of this technology on the food quality and safety. Thus, the present work seeks for to evaluate the influence of the genetic modification of the soybean on the nutritional quality, on the possible effects of chronical exposition, as well as the effects on the fertility and the development of Wistar rats and the on the endocrine system. The nutritional quality was evaluated through the protein value, in 30 male rats, just weaned, distributed in five groups, fed along 28 days with the following diets, 10% protein ration GMRR soybean no isogenic, GMRR soybean isogenic, conventional soybean, milk (casein) or for 10 days with a non-protein diet. The weight gain and the food intake of diets did not present statistical relevance. The same behavior was observed in the variables of growth and the nitrogen balance study. In the chronical exposition of 40 male and 39 female rats distributed in four groups that consumed genetically modified soybean no isogenic and isogenic, conventional soybean and the standard group without soybean it signs of systemic toxicity on males have been evident in the neutrophilia, lymphocytopenia in the group conventional soybean compared with the standard group, lymphoid hyperplasia of the lungs in the groups without soybean; the signs of reproductive toxicity through of 8 the increase on relative weight of the tests and epididymis and also through the decrease of the sperm concentration. On the females the effect on the reproductive system became evident through the fertility pregnancy and weaning index. These results point out that the protein quality of the genetically modified soybean is preserved, but there is an association of factors that trigger a probable endocrine disruption. Studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanism of interaction that cause toxicity on males and females fed with conventional soybean and genetically modified soybean that presented detectable glyphosate levels.