Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of transgenic rice with the cry1Ab/Ac gene on morphology of intestinal mucosa,cell number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and goblet cells in Cynomolgus monkey. METHODS: Twenty-four cynomolgus monkeys,half male and female,were randomly divided into 3 groups including control group of ordinary rice,low dose group and high dose groups of transgenic rice with the cry1Ab/Ac gene. Monkeys were fed twice a day and each feeding was (100±10) g for 6 months with 4 weeks recovery period. Monkeys were observed for general toxicity,clinical effects,body weight,body temperature,electrocardiogram,hematology,serum biochemistry, urinary biochemistry,organ weight and histopathological examination. HE and PAS staining were done for duodenum, jejunum and lleum. The morphology of intestinal mucosa,cell number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and goblet cells were observed under microscope. RESULTS: After six months,detection of transgenic rice with the cry1Ab/Ac gene were 0, 17.5% and 70%,in control,low dose and high dose groups,respectively. Compared with the control group,no abnormalities in toxicity,etc. were found in the treated groups. No pathological changes were observed in intestinal morphology. Cell number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and goblet cells were not statistically different between control and treated groups. CONCLUSION: Transgenic rice with the cry1Ab/Ac gene had no side effects on small intestine mucosal morphology,cell number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and goblet cells in Cynomolgus monkey.

Key words: cry1Ab/Ac gene, intraepithelial lymphocytes, goblet cells, Cynomolgus monkey