A phytoestrogen diet induces the premature anovulatory syndrome in lactationally exposed female rats.
The effects of a phytoestrogen diet on sexual differentiation were examined in lactationally exposed rat pups. Rat dams were provided a semipurified diet containing the isoflavonoid coumestrol at a concentration (0.01%) previously found to be uterotrophic. Coumestrol treatment did not significantly alter the time of vaginal opening, although vaginal opening did occur at a lighter body weight. By 132 days of age, 83% of coumestrol-treated females exhibited the cornified smears of a persistent estrous state. By contrast, 91% of control animals were cycling regularly at 132 days of age. Estradiol stimulation failed to elicit an LH elevation in the coumestrol-treated animals, suggesting the possibility of neuroendocrine impairments. These findings indicate that the female offspring of mothers fed a low-level phytoestrogen diet during lactation manifest early and nearly universal disruption of cyclicity of the persistent-estrus type.
Whitten
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PL
Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.
Lewis
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C
Naftolin
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F
D000818:Animals; D000858:Anovulation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001835:Body Weight; D003375:Coumestrol / Q000633:toxicity; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004435:Eating; D004967:Estrogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D005260:Female; D007529:Isoflavones; D007774:Lactation; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D010945:Plants, Edible; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013577:Syndrome
D004967:Estrogens; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D007529:Isoflavones; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D003375:Coumestrol