title: The impact of the phyto-oestrogen genistein on swine granulosa cell function.
abstract: Soya and soybean products used in swine feeding contain genistein, a non-steroidal phyto-oestrogen which has been demonstrated to influence endocrine functions. This observation leads us to design this study to evaluate the effect of genistein on swine granulosa cell steroidogenesis and proliferation. In the attempt to unravel the genistein signal transduction mechanisms, we verified the effect of lavendustin, a Tyrosine Kinase (TK) inhibitor, and the potential involvement of NO/cGMP pathway. Finally, as angiogenesis is essential for follicle development, we tested the effect of the phyto-oestrogen on vascular endothelial growth factor production and on granulosa cell redox status, because free-radical species modulate neovascularization. Our data provide evidence that genistein interferes with granulosa cell steroidogenesis while it does not modulate cell growth: this effect could be at least partially produced by inhibiting TK-dependent signalling systems. On the contrary, NO/cGMP pathway or vascular endothelial growth factor production can be excluded as signalling mechanism involved in phyto-oestrogen effects. Remarkably, genistein stimulates hydrogen peroxide production thus potentially inhibiting follicular angiogenesis. Collectively, these results suggest that genistein consumption could potentially negatively impact swine reproductive function.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Produzioni Animali, Biotecnologie Veterinarie, Qualità e Sicurezza degli Alimenti - Sezione di Fisiologia Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy. basini@unipr.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Basini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bussolati
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grasselli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013256:Steroids; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D019833:Genistein; D009195:Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D006152:Cyclic GMP