title: Phytoestrogen alpha-zearalanol inhibits atherogenesis and improves lipid profile in ovariectomized cholesterol-fed rabbits.
abstract: Although favorable effects of estrogen replacement therapy on atherosclerosis have been recognized, the benefit versus risk of estrogen replacement on overall cardio- vascular health remains controversial. The main adverse effect jeopardizing the clinical usage of estrogen is the increased risk of breast and endometrial cancer. Zearalenone (ZEN) is a universal endogenous hormone possessing estrogen-like effects and facilitating plant growth. alpha-Zearalanol (alpha-ZAL), a new phytoestrogen, is a reductive product of ZEN. Our preliminary evidence suggested that alpha-ZAL is anti-atherosclerotic. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of alpha-ZAL on atherosclerotic formation and serum lipid profile. Adult female nulliparous rabbits were ovariectomized or sham-operated and fed a high-cholesterol diet with different doses of alpha-ZAL or 17beta-estradiol for 12 wk. The aortic intimal atherosclerotic plaque was significantly larger in the cholesterol-fed group compared to control and sham groups. alpha-ZAL and 17beta-estradiol treatments significantly reduced plaque formation and improved serum profile of lipid (TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C) and lipoprotein (ApoAl and ApoB). Both alpha-ZAL and 17beta-estradiol reconciled ovariectomy-induced uterine atrophy, although alpha-ZAL was significantly less potent than 17beta-estradiol in stimulating uterine growth. Our findings indicate that the phytoestrogen alpha-ZAL has an important anti-atherogenic property, analogous to that of estrogen.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China 100005. jren@uwyo.edu
authors.forename: Shunling
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Jinhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yihua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jinxuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Xiaoyuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yunqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Pingping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Yiyong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Qinsheng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010052:Ovariectomy; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D015029:Zeranol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D004967:Estrogens; D008055:Lipids; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D014280:Triglycerides; C029659:zearalenol; D004958:Estradiol; D015029:Zeranol; D002784:Cholesterol