title: Genistein and daidzein affect in vitro steroidogenesis but not gene expression of steroidogenic enzymes in adrenals of pigs.
abstract: Phytoestrogens (PEs), including genistein and daidzein, are plant-derived substances that mimic or antagonize estrogen action in animals. The majority of studies investigated the effects of PEs on reproduction in humans and laboratory animals. The mechanisms of phytoestrogen action on reproductive processes in domesticated animals, including pigs, are garnering increasing attention. However, very few in vivo and in vitro studies investigating the effects of PEs on adrenal glands have been carried out on models other than humans and rats. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the effects of genistein and daidzein on adrenal in vitro steroidogenesis are accompanied by changes in expression of genes encoding key steroidogenic enzymes in porcine adrenocortical cells. The following genes were analyzed: cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc, CYP11A1 gene), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD, HSD3B1 gene), 17α-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase (P450c17, CYP17A1 gene) and 21-hydroxylase (P450c21, CYP21A2 gene). Porcine adrenocortical cells collected from both luteal- and follicular-phase gilts were exposed for eight hours to genistein (10 μM), or daidzein (10 μM), in the absence or presence of ACTH (5 nM). Genistein and daidzein inhibited basal and ACTH-stimulated secretion of cortisol and corticosterone and stimulated secretion of androstenedione. PEs did not affect the expression of CYP11A1, HSD3B1, CYP17A1 and CYP21A2 in the adrenocortical cells of luteal- and follicular-phase gilts. It can be concluded that the influence of PEs on steroid secretion in porcine adrenal glands is not mediated by changes in the expression of genes encoding major steroidogenic enzymes. More studies are needed to elucidate the intracellular mechanisms leading to the PE-induced changes in adrenal steroidogenesis in pigs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland. barbara.kaminska@uwm.edu.pl.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaminska
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czerwinska
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wojciechowicz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nynca
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ciereszko
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000235:genetics; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000378:metabolism; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics; D013255:Steroid 21-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D007529:Isoflavones; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D000735:Androstenedione; C004742:daidzein; D019833:Genistein; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D013255:Steroid 21-Hydroxylase; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme; D003345:Corticosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone