Soy extract-dependent changes in morphofunctional parameters of the pituitary corticotropes in adult rats.
Numerous studies have established a link between estrogen levels and activity of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) system. Considering the "weak estrogenic" effect of soy isoflavones, this study was designed to evaluate the influence of soy extract treatment on some morphofunctional parameters of rat pituitary corticotropes in vivo. Adult male orchidectomized Wistar rats received estradiol-dipropionate or soy extract in oil/ethanol solvent subcutaneously for 3 weeks. Both controls, sham-operated (So) and orchidectomized (Orx) rats, were injected with solvent, in the same regime. Changes in pituitary volume, total volume, total number and volume of individual corticotropes were evaluated stereologically, while ACTH levels were determined biochemically. In comparison with So rats, estradiol treatment provoked increases (p<0.05) of: ACTH level (166%), pituitary weight (167%) and volume (102%), total volume (20%) and total number of corticotropes (18%). In comparison to Orx, following estradiol treatment elevation (p<0.05) of: ACTH level (69%), pituitary weight (131%) and volume (82%), total (30%) and individual volume (29%) of corticotropes was observed. Soy extract treatment led to enhancement (p<0.05) of: ACTH level (28%), total (25%) and individual volume (20%) of corticotropes. It can be concluded that soy extract acts in a similar way to estradiol, but the increased activity of corticotropes was weaker.
University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", Department of Cytology, Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: lanat@ibiss.bg.ac.rs.
Svetlana
S
Trifunović
University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", Department of Cytology, Belgrade, Serbia.
Milica
M
Manojlović-Stojanoski
University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", Department of Cytology, Belgrade, Serbia.
Vladimir
V
Ajdžanović
University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", Department of Cytology, Belgrade, Serbia.
Nataša
N
Nestorović
University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", Department of Cytology, Belgrade, Serbia.
Nataša
N
Ristić
University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", Department of Cytology, Belgrade, Serbia.
Branka
B
Sošić-Jurjević
University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", Department of Cytology, Belgrade, Serbia.
Verica
V
Milošević
D000818:Animals; D052680:Corticotrophs / Q000187:drug effects*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013025:Glycine max / Q000737:chemistry*
D010936:Plant Extracts; D004958:Estradiol; C023482:estradiol dipropionate
Corticotropes; Rats; Soy extract; Stereology