Effect of equol on oestrogen receptors and on synthesis of DNA and protein in the immature rat uterus.
In immature, 3-week-old female rats, 5 mg equol given by subcutaneous injection increased uterine wet weight 24 h later to the same degree as did 5 microgram oestradiol-17 beta. At this dose there was more receptor complex binding to the nucleus in the equol-injected rats than in the rats injected with oestradiol-17 beta even after 6 h. However, the equol-receptor complex that bound to the nucleus was more extractable with 0 x 3 M-KCl. In the equol-injected rats the duration of uterine growth was shorter and there was less receptor replenishment and synthesis of protein and DNA than in the rats injected with oestradiol-17 beta 30 h after either injection. It was concluded that equol is a weakly oestrogenic compound which is antagonistic to oestradiol-17 beta by competing with oestradiol-receptor complex for nuclear binding and yet fails to initiate the replenishment of oestrogen receptors effectively in the cytoplasm.
D000818:Animals; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002839:Chromans / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D060754:Equol; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007529:Isoflavones; D007930:Leucine / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
C007610:4',7-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydroisoflavone; D001578:Benzopyrans; D002839:Chromans; D007529:Isoflavones; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D004958:Estradiol; D060754:Equol; D004247:DNA; D007930:Leucine; D013936:Thymidine