title: Effects of genistein on gonadotropic cells in immature female rats.
abstract: The effects of genistein on pituitary gonadotropic cells of immature female rats were examined and compared to actions of the synthetic estrogen, 17α-ethynylestradiol. Immature female rats received 50mg/kg/bw of genistein in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) subcutaneously (s.c.) daily for 3 days at 18, 19 and 20 days of age. A second group was injected with 1μg/kg of 17α-ethynylestradiol in olive oil in the same schedule. The genistein control group received DMSO only, while 17α-ethynylestradiol controls were given sterile olive oil only. Changes in cell number per mm(2), cell volume and volume density of follicle-stimulating (FSH) and luteinizing (LH) immunolabeled cells were evaluated by morphometry and stereology. Genistein induced significant increases in the number of FSH cells (by 21%) and LH cells (by 20%) per mm(2) compared to corresponding controls. Volumes of FSH and LH cells were significantly increased by 19.7% and 20% and their volume densities by 20% and 20.2%, respectively. Estradiol markedly affected gonadotropes in the same manner, but to a greater extent. It can be concluded that genistein acted as an estrogenic agonist in the pituitaries of immature female rats, and as such, stimulated gonadotropic cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Serbia. ivana84@ibiss.bg.ac.rs
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Medigović
authors.forename: Milica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manojlović-Stojanoski
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trifunović
authors.forename: Nataša
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ristić
authors.forename: Verica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Milošević
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zikić
authors.forename: Nataša
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nestorović
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002452:Cell Count; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000819:agonists* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052681:Gonadotrophs / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000819:agonists* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008853:Microscopy; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D019833:Genistein; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide