Gamma-glutamyl transferase activity in kids born from goats fed genetically modified soybean

Journal or Publishing Institution: Food and Nutrition Sciences

Study: https://web.archive.org/web/20180810204940/http://www.ask-force.org/web/HerbizideTol/Marelli-Mastellone-Gamma-Glutamyl-Transferase-Activity-in-Kids-Born-from-Goats-retracted-2013.pdf

Author(s): Mastellone, V., Tudisco, R., Monastra, G., Pero, M.E., Calabrò, S., Lombardi, P., Grossi, M., Cutrignelli, M.I., Avallone, L. and Infascelli, F.

Article Type: Peer Reviewed Study

Record ID: 1528

Abstract: The majority of animal feeding trials using GM feeds indicated no clinical effects while as concerns histopathological abnormalities in organs or tissues of exposed animals, the results are conflicting. Several data indicate liver and kidney problems as end points of GM diet effects. In rabbit fed GM soybean, it was hypothesised that cell metabolism of several enzymes was altered as well as elevated levels of LDH were revealed in tissues and organs of kids when mothers are fed GM soybean. The objective of this study was to investigate the fate of transgenic DNA and the activity of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) in blood, liver and kidney from kids fed only milk of their mother fed conventional (control) or genetically modified soybean meal solvent extract (treated). PCR analysis revealed that fragments of multicopy chloroplast (trnL) and single soybean-specific (lectin) gene were found in samples of both groups. Fragments of transgenic gene were found only in treated kids: detection of 35S promoter was significant in liver, kidney and blood, and detection of CP4 epsps gene fragment was significant in liver and kidney. Concerning GGT, no differences were found in serum, while its activity was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in kidney (63.4 ± 7.8 vs 81.2 ± 11.3 u/g of tissue) and liver (40.1 ± 5.2 vs 62.6 ± 9.8 u/g of tissue) of kids from treated goats. The increase in GGT activity was confirmed by histochemistry.

Keywords: Genetically Modified Soybean; Goat; Kid; Gamma-Glutamyltransferase; DNA Fate; PCR

Note: The article has been retracted due to the investigation of complaints received against it. The data of figure 1(b) came from the previous published paper by Tudisco R, Mastellone V, Cutrignelli MI, Lombardi P, Bovera F, Mirabella N, Piccolo G, Calabrò S, Avallone , Infascelli F. Animal.“Fate of transgenic DNA and evaluation of metabolic effects in goats fed genetically modified soybean and in their offsprings”4(10):1662-71, 2010. The scientific community takes a very strong view on this matter and we treat all unethical behavior such as plagiarism seriously. This article has been retracted to straighten the academic record. In making this decision the Editorial Board follows COPE’s Retraction Guidelines. Aim is to promote the circulation of scientific research by offering an ideal research publication platform with due consideration of internationally accepted standards on publication ethics. The Editorial Board would like to extend its sincere apologies for any inconvenience this retraction may have caused.

Citation: Mastellone, V., Tudisco, R., Monastra, G., Pero, M.E., Calabrò, S., Lombardi, P., Grossi, M., Cutrignelli, M.I., Avallone, L. and Infascelli, F., 2013. RETRACTED: Gamma-glutamyl transferase activity in kids born from goats fed genetically modified soybean. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 4(06), p.50.