title: Effects of exposure to genistein and estradiol on reproductive development in immature male mice weaned from dams adapted to a soy-based commercial diet.
abstract: Genistein, a soybean-originated isoflavone, is widely consumed by humans for putative beneficial health effects but its estrogenic activity may adversely affect the development of male reproductive system. Twenty one-day-old ICR mice weaned from dams fed with a soybean-based diet throughout gestation and lactation were exposed by gavage to genistein (2.5 mg/kg b.w./day) or 17beta-estradiol (7.5 microg/kg b.w./day) for five weeks. Corn oil was used as a negative control. The animals were fed with a casein-based AIN-76A diet throughout the experimental periods. There were no significant differences in body and organ weights of mice among experimental groups. No significant differences in sperm counts and sperm motile characteristics were found between control and genistein groups. Treatment of 17beta-estradiol caused a significant decrease in prostate weight and epididymal sperm counts compared to the control (p<0.05). The levels of phospholipid hydroxide glutathione peroxidase in the testis and prostate of mice exposed to genistein or 17beta-estradiol were significantly higher than that of the control mice (p<0.05). 17beta-estradiol treatment caused degeneration and apoptosis of germ cells in the testis, depletion and degeneration in the epididymal epithelium, and hyperplasia of mucosal fold region in the prostate of mice. Genistein treatment did not cause any lesion in the testis, epididymis, and prostate. These results suggest that dietary uptake of genistein during juvenile period may not affect male reproductive development and functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Yong
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Beom-Jun
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Won
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Jong-Koo
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: In-Jeoung
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Min-Yon
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Jurg
authors.forename: Yoon-Bok
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Heon-Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Jae-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kang-Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Wook-Joon
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jae Cheul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: Young Cheul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang-Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nam
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D019833:Genistein / Q000633:toxicity*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D000080662:Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013025:Glycine max; D013076:Sperm Count; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D048789:Phytoestrogens; D004958:Estradiol; D019833:Genistein; D000080662:Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase