EFFECT OF 8-ENDOTOXIN OF BACILLUS THURINGmNSJS USED AS INSECTICIDES ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN EXPElUMENTAL ANlMALS

Abstract

This study deals with the effect of the o-endotoxin of two bacterial strains, which are Bacillus thuringiensis israe/ensis (B.t.i.) and /3. thuringiensis krustaki (B.t.k.) on the kidney and liver functions of mice. The study includes also the effect of transgenic plants (potatoes) which carry and express the gene responsible for the delta­ endotoxin fi•om B.t.k. The bacterial toxin was applied to mice (the target animal) as

lullows

1- A single dose of bacterial toxin of different concentrations (1, 2 & 4 gm/L.) once a week. 2- Accumulative feeding on food treated with the bacterial toxin (I

gm/L.) lor different periods of time (20, 35 & GO days).

3- Accumulative feeding on transgenic plants for two weeks.

Aller each feeding period, the mice were anaesthetised to take the blood samples directly from the heart and the different parameters of liver and kidney function were chemically analysed. The same mice were then dissected to remove the organs (livers and kidneys) to be prepared for histopathological studies.