title: Changes in male reproductive system and mineral metabolism induced by soy isoflavones administered to rats from prenatal life until sexual maturity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the influence of high-dose soy isoflavones (daidzein and genistein) administered from prenatal life to sexual maturity on testosterone and estradiol levels, testicular and epididymal morphology, the number of epididymal spermatozoa, and mineral metabolism in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant Wistar rats received orally soy isoflavones, daidzein, and genistein at a dose of 200 mg/kg of body weight per day. After separating sucklings from their mothers, male rats received the same dose of isoflavones until reaching the age of sexual maturity, i.e., for 3 mo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the isoflavone-treated group, statistically significant decreased concentrations of zinc (determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry) in blood serum and increased concentrations in bone were observed. The isoflavones induced changes in the morphology of the seminiferous epithelium of rat testes. However, there were no significant changes in the number of spermatozoa in the epididymis. The levels of estradiol in serum and cauda epididymis homogenates of rats receiving phytoestrogens were significantly higher than in the control group. No differences were observed in testosterone concentrations in the serum of treated and control rats. The testosterone levels in the homogenates of the treated rat testes were significantly lower than in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relatively mild effects of phytoestrogen administration on the morphology of testes and epididymides and the number of epididymal spermatozoa were observed despite the high dose used. The exposure of rats to genistein and daidzein during intrauterine life until sexual maturity influenced the mineral metabolism of the organism by significant decreases of Zn concentration in serum and increased Zn concentration in bones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Piotrowska
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baranowska-Bosiacka
authors.forename: Mariola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marchlewicz
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gutowska
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Noceń
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zawiślak
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chlubek
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiszniewska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D013025:Glycine max / Q000737:chemistry*; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007529:Isoflavones; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; C004742:daidzein; D019833:Genistein; D015032:Zinc