Genistein is neuroprotective in murine models of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and stroke.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), whether sporadic or familial (FALS), is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disorder involving the motor neurons of the cortex, brain stem, and spinal cord. In some studies, the male/female ratio of ALS patients was as high as 2 to 1. In FALS mice, disease onset and mortality were earlier among males than among females. This sexual dimorphism was due to estrogen, as treatment with genistein, a phytoestrogen, eliminated the observed sexual dimorphism in FALS mice. Genistein treatment also protected against oxygen singlet-induced cerebral damage in vivo. However, sexual dimorphism was not observed in this model of stroke; and genistein was equally effective in males and females. These data suggest that genistein has both estrogen-dependent and estrogen-independent neuroprotective activities and it should be investigated as a prophylactic agent against pathologic conditions such as ALS and stroke.
D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D019833:Genistein / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*