[The estrogenic effect of formononetin and its effect on the expression of rats' atrium estrogen receptors].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the estrogenic effect of formononetin and its effect on the expressions of atrial estrogen receptor subtypes alpha and beta (ERalpha and ERbeta).


METHODS
50 femal rats were randomly divided into five groups: sham group, model group, nilestriol group, formononetin groups of low and high dose. Rats in sham group were cut a piece of fat before closing the abdomen, the others were ovariectomized. Vaginal exfoliated cell were observed from the fifth day to the tenth after operation to test if the model is successful. The sham and model group were given nomal saline in 10 mL/kg by gavage, the remaining three groups were given nilestriol 2.5 mg/(kg x w), low [20 mg/(kg x d) land high dose [100 mg/(kg x d)) of formononetin by gavage respectively. In the 8th week, vaginal exfoliated cell were observed, then decapitated the rats, removed the uterus, weighed and take wright staining microscopy. The relative expressions of ERalpha and ERbeta of right atrium were detected by RT-PCR.


RESULTS
The vaginal cells exhibit a change of estrus after had been fed with high dose of formononetin after 8 weeks. Formononetin increase the uterus coefficient and the expression of atrial ERbeta (P < 0.01), but it dose not have any effect on the expression of ERalpha (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Formononetin have estrogenic effect in ovariectomized rats, and it can markedly upregulate the expression of rats' atrial ERbeta.
Chongqing Three Gorges Central Hospital, Chongqing 404000, China. xialuyan_1982@163.com
Dian-Xia
DX
Xing
Xian-Ling
XL
Liu
Cun-Kuan
CK
Xue
Qi
Q
Huang
Zhi-Gao
ZG
Liu
Liang
L
Xiong
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004964:Estriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000378:metabolism*; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011800:Quinestrol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D029921:Trifolium / Q000737:chemistry; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects*
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D007529:Isoflavones; D048789:Phytoestrogens; C007768:formononetin; C010722:nylestriol; D004964:Estriol; D011800:Quinestrol