title: Comparative effects of 17beta-estradiol and phytoestrogens in the regulation of endometrial functions in the rodent uterus.
abstract: The present study aimed at improving our understanding of the effects of 17beta-estradiol and phytoestrogens on the uterine tissue, by evaluating tissue-specific modulation of molecules related to cell-cycle control and angiogenesis. Specifically, the uterine expression of Ki67, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), was examined by immunohistochemical analysis. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats were treated with either the vehicle, a phytoestrogen- containing soy extract (SSE) (100 mg/kg/day pos), or 17beta-estradiol (0.5 mg/kg/day pos); a sham control group (SHAM) was also included in the study. At necropsy, uteri were weighed, collected, and subsequently processed for histopathology or immunohistochemistry. SSE-treated rats did not show any significant change either in the weight or in histological features of the uterus when compared to OVX controls; the epithelial expression of proliferation marker Ki67 was seen to be significantly reduced, in comparison to both SHAM and OVX rats. Conversely, 17beta-estradiol significantly increased uterine weight, induced hyperplasia in the majority of rats, and enhanced Ki67 epithelial expression. The regulation of PPARgamma expression, reduced after ovariectomy, was similar in SSE- and 17beta-estradiol-treated rats, showing a further significant decrease in stromal immunostaining, in comparison to OVX controls. VEGFR-2 epithelial immunostaining, slightly reduced following ovariectomy, was highly increased on 17beta-estradiol treatment, while following SSE, the pattern of staining observed was similar to that of OVX controls. Data from this study show that PPARgamma and VEGFR-2 represent additional targets by which sex steroid estrogen and plant-derived phytoestrogens may, at certain doses, differentially regulate endometrial functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Zannoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabrizi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Stefano
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mantuano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scambia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D047495:PPAR gamma; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D004958:Estradiol; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2