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Long-term (>7-year) parental consumption of genetically modified maize (Cry1Ab/Cry2Aj and EPSPS) induces no adverse sperm DNA methylation alterations across two generations of cynomolgus monkeys.

Minghao Li·Chenyun Wang·Zheli Li·Weihu Long·Kuanchao Sun·Yunguang Hu·Peixuan Sun·Donghong Tang
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Abstract

This study assessed the long-term safety of genetically modified (GM) maize from a male reproductive perspective, using a non-human primate model. We analyzed the sperm DNA methylation profiles in cynomolgus monkeys fed GM maize, non-GM parental maize, or a conventional diet over two generations (F0/F1). Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) revealed no significant differences in global methylation levels among groups. The identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were short, enriched in non-regulatory genomic areas, and did not cluster after treatment. Functional enrichment analysis showed that DMR-associated genes were consistently involved in the same core biological pathways (e.g., mTOR and Wnt signaling) across all dietary comparisons. These findings indicate that GM maize consumption did not induce specific adverse epigenetic alterations in sperm, with the observed changes reflecting common physiological adaptations to dietary variations rather than GM-related effects.

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AnimalsMaleDNA MethylationZea maysSpermatozoaMacaca fascicularisPlants, Genetically ModifiedEpigenesis, GeneticCynomolgus monkeyDNA methylationEpigeneticsGenetically modified maizeSafety assessmentSpermJournal Article

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Minghao Li, Chenyun Wang, Zheli Li, Weihu Long, Kuanchao Sun, Yunguang Hu, Peixuan Sun, Donghong Tang. 2026-08-21. Long-term (>7-year) parental consumption of genetically modified maize (Cry1Ab/Cry2Aj and EPSPS) induces no adverse sperm DNA methylation alterations across two generations of cynomolgus monkeys.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2026.116340

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Journal Article resourceAnimals subjectDNA Methylation subjectEpigenesis, Genetic subjectEpigenetics subjectJournal Article subjectMale subject

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