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Mice fed genetically modified (GM) soybean were not affected in nutritional performance, but pancreatic microscopic features were disturbed. The mechanisms for these contradictory findings are unknown. This study analysed the histology of acinar pancreatic cells and the expression of pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) and trypsinogen mRNA in rats fed GM soy protein. Two bioassays were run, each one with 34 Wistar rats distributed into two groups fed with non-GM or GM-soy protein (18% protein) for 0, 1, 3, 5, 15 and 30 days. Nutritional evaluation, plasma amylase levels, pancreatic histological analysis and quantification of PAP and trypsinogen mRNAs levels using quantitative real-time RT-PCR were done. No differences in nutritional performance among rats fed non-GM and GM diets were found. The GM, but not the non-GM, diet induced zymogen-granule depletion after 15 days feeding, returning to normal levels after 30 days (P < 0.05). Acinar disorganization started as early as 5 days after initiation of the GM diet and it recovered after 30 days. Levels of PAP mRNA significantly increased in the GM diet between day 1 and day 3 and decreased to the basal level by day 15. Trypsinogen mRNA peaked at two different times; at day 1 and at day 15, decreasing to basal levels after 30 days. Plasma amylase levels remained unchanged at all times. This indicates that GM soy protein intake affected pancreas function, evidenced by the early acute PAP mRNA increased levels and pancreas cellular changes followed by recuperation of acinar cells after 30 days.

Introduction: Giardia lamblia, a protozoan intestinal parasite is able to evade or suppress defense mechanisms, such as innate response. Antigen presenting cells (APC) like dendritic cells may orchestrate an immune response and support a more effective adaptive defense. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a dietary lipid, has shown biological activity on APC. The aim was to evaluate the effect of CLA in intestinal innate response measuring the frequency of mucosal APC populations in Giardia lamblia murine infection.Method: The giardiasis infection model was established in C3H/HeN mice (n=32), and parasite load was followed at 0, 2, 6 and 8 days post infection (dpi). APC obtained from small intestine by enzymatic digestion were assessed by flow cytometry. Oral supplementation with CLA (50:50 of cis-9, trans-11-CLA and trans-10, cis-12-CLA isomers) and placebo control begun three days before infection and continued during first week post infection.Results: Infection kinetics showed a peak of trophozoites at 6 dpi in acute phase. Parasite load was lower in CLA group in comparison with control infected group (p<0.05). Conjugated linoleic acid stimulates innate immune response, percentage of intestinal CD11chiMHC-IIhi increases after 2 dpi, meanwhile CD11chiMHC-IIhiCD103+ APC was higher after three days of CLA supplementation than control (p<0.05). Also, the CD11c+ F4/80+ population shown a percentage increases after 6 and 8 dpi by the effect of treatment and time of infection (p<0.05).Conclusion: In conclusion CLA increased percentages of small intestine APC phenotypes CD11chiMHCIIhi, CD11chiMHCIIhiCD103+ and CD11c+ F4/80+, and reduced G. lamblia parasitic load. Further studies are needed to elucidate potential mechanisms involved in CLA immunomodulatory effect and its contribution in adaptive immune response.