title: Oral administration of a soy extract improves endothelial dysfunction in ovariectomized rats.
abstract: Effects of oral administration for 4 weeks of a soy fraction with mainly isoflavones (Glycine max, Leguminosae) (SOYPH; 5 mg/kg) on vascular dysfunction induced by bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) in rats were studied. We evaluated vascular reactivity of aortic rings after acetylcholine (ACh 10 nM-10 microM), sodium nitroprussiate (SN 15 - 30 nM) and NG-L-arginine (L-NMA; 10 - 100 microM). Uterine weight and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity were also investigated. The same parameters were observed after 4 weeks treatment with 17beta-estradiol. In OVX rats endothelial-dependent vascular responses were changed: reduction of induced contraction ( L-NMA 100 mM: sham OVX 2.1 +/- 0.2 g/mg tissue; OVX 1.7 +/- 0.4 g/mg tissue). Ovariectomy produced a reduction of constitutive NOS activity. Uterine weight was increased in animals treated with 17beta-estradiol but not with SOYPH. Either SOYPH or 17beta-estradiol produced a similar improvement of endothelial dysfunction and increased NOS activity. Our data suggest that soy isoflavones produce an improvement of endothelial dysfunction induced by ovariectomy so as 17beta-estradiol, but probably without changes in reproductive system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crupi
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Firenzuoli
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sturiale
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Squadrito
authors.forename: Achille Patrizio
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Caputi
authors.forename: Gioacchino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calapai
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023421:Models, Animal; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013025:Glycine max; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007529:Isoflavones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009599:Nitroprusside; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D004958:Estradiol; D001120:Arginine; D000109:Acetylcholine