Oral administration of a soy extract improves endothelial dysfunction in ovariectomized rats.
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.
Catania
Maria Antonietta
MA
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Crupi
Anna
A
Firenzuoli
Fabio
F
Parisi
Alessandra
A
Sturiale
Alessio
A
Squadrito
Francesco
F
Caputi
Achille Patrizio
AP
Calapai
Gioacchino
G
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
D007529:Isoflavones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009599:Nitroprusside; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D004958:Estradiol; D001120:Arginine; D000109:Acetylcholine