Journal or Publishing Institution: Society for Histochemistry
Author(s): Oliveri, J.
Article Type: Report
Record ID: 1807
Abstract: Genetically modified (GM) soybean, resistant to the pesticide Round up, is a widely spread crop for animal and human consumption. We have focused our attention on embryos at 4-8 cells stage from mice fed on a diet containing 14% of GM soybean, analysing the possible alterations in transcription and splicing processes. We have evaluated, at electron microscopy, the nuclear distribution and the relative amount of some factors involved in transcriptional and processing mechanisms of mRNA and rRNA. We have observed in the nucleoplasm a significant decrease of the labelling for the active form of RNA polymerase II, associated with a reduction of labelling for splicing, polyadenilation and cleavage factors. As for the latter we have taken into account the cleavage factor CFIm, found in the nucleoplasm and, surprisingly, in the nucleolus-like bodies which, in early embryos, likely represent nucleolar precursors. In embryos from GM-fed mice the nucleolar CFIm also decreases, suggesting that the nucleolus may play a role in the stockage of such factors. On the basis of our results we could suggest that a temporary decrease in the transcription and maturation of mRNA exists in embryos from mice fed on GM soybean. Moreover, on the basis of the reduced presence of factors active in RNA maturation, we could hypothesize that an accumulation of immature RNA could be present in the nucleoplasm.
Keywords: Roundup, GM Soybean, Embroys, RNA, Nucleoplasm, Mice
Citation: Oliveri, J., 2006, September. Temporary Depression of Transcription in mouse Preimplantation Embryos from mice fed on Genetically Modified Soybean. In 48th Symposium of the Society for Histochemistry: Lake Magggiore, Italy, pp. 35.
