Effects of transmaternal exposure to genistein in Hatano high- and low-avoidance rats.
Hatano high- and low-avoidance (HAA and LAA) rats are separated by breeding from Sprague-Dawley rats by high versus low rates of avoidance responses in a shuttle-box task. In addition, compared to HAA rats, LAA rats show lower running-wheel activity, later sexual maturation, 5-day estrous cycling, lower sperm motility, more pronounced immunological reactions, and are generally less reactive to stress. The present study was designed to compare the effects of transmaternal exposure to genistein on these characteristics between HAA and LAA rats. To this aim, litters from both strains were fostered onto Sprague-Dawley rats receiving genistein by gavage with 5 mg/animal/day from day 17 of pregnancy through day 21 of lactation. Inhibited growth after weaning and reduced uterine weight at weaning were observed in the LAA offspring reared by genistein-treated dams. IgM antibody production in response to sheep red blood cells was significantly decreased in the HAA offspring reared by genistein-treated dams. During restraint stress, the plasma concentration of corticosterone was significantly lower in the LAA offspring reared by genistein-treated dams. Strain-related differences were detected in shuttle-box avoidance performance, running-wheel activity, estrous cycling, and sperm motility. The results demonstrate that transmaternal exposure to genistein potentially affects the immunological and stress responses as well as the post-weaning growth of the offspring. It suggests that a comparative study using Hatano rats would be useful for studying the influence of endocrine active chemicals on the whole body systems.
Ohta
Ryo
R
Laboratory of Genetics, Hatano Research Institute, Food and Drug Safety Center, Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan.
Shirota
Mariko
M
Kanazawa
Yukiko
Y
Shindo
Tomoko
T
Furuya
Mami
M
Seki
Takayuki
T
Ono
Hiroshi
H
Kojima
Kohichi
K
Asai
Sayaka
S
Watanabe
Gen
G
Taya
Kazuyoshi
K
D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048788:Growth and Development / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007103:Immobilization; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
D048789:Phytoestrogens; D019833:Genistein