Background: The turn towards renewable energy sources has increased the production of biodiesel from rapeseed oil, leaving glycerol as a valuable by-product. Several studies have evaluated this product in feed for poultry, swine and ruminants. We investigated the effect of these glycerol products on the expression of DNA damage-inducible genes in mice.
Materials and methods: CBA/CA mice were administered two different purified glycerol products (SZME2, SZME3) for 3, 6 and 24 hours. After dietary exposure, gene expressions of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cells 1 (NFkb1) and growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible protein 45 alpha (Gadd45a) were analysed.
Results: SZME2 induced a down-regulation of the two genes in all investigated organs, including the bone marrow in both genders. After administration of SZME3, up-regulation of the two genes was observed in bone marrow in males, and the up-regulation of Gadd45a in liver, also in males.
Conclusion: Based upon our data, SZME3, which contains glycerol of higher purification, did not induce down-regulation in genes which are involved in apoptosis.