title: Perinatal exposure to genistein affects the normal development of anxiety and aggressive behaviors and nitric oxide system in CD1 male mice.
abstract: Genistein is a phytoestrogen, particularly abundant in soybeans, that is able to bind estrogen receptors exerting both estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities. Genistein is largely present in the human diet even during pregnancy. Embryos and fetuses are therefore, commonly exposed to genistein during the development and after birth. In the present study, we used a murine model as a test end-point to investigate the effects of early exposure to genistein on adult male behavior and related neural circuits. Daily exposure of dams to genistein (100 μg/g of body weight) during late pregnancy and early lactation, produced in male offspring, when adults, significant changes in anxiety and aggressive behaviors. Moreover, we found statistically significant variations in the number of neuronal nitric-oxide synthase positive cells in the amygdala. In conclusions, these data indicate that early exposure to phytoestrogens may induce life-long effects on the differentiation of brain structures and behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Corso M. D'Azeglio 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri-Ottolenghi (NICO), Regione Gonzole 10, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Gomez
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Corso M. D'Azeglio 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri-Ottolenghi (NICO), Regione Gonzole 10, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Filice
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Corso M. D'Azeglio 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri-Ottolenghi (NICO), Regione Gonzole 10, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Corso M. D'Azeglio 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri-Ottolenghi (NICO), Regione Gonzole 10, Orbassano, Torino, Italy. Electronic address: giancarlo.panzica@unito.it.
authors.forename: GianCarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Panzica
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D019833:Genistein / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D048789:Phytoestrogens; D019833:Genistein; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase
keywords: Anxiety; Brain development; Nitric oxide synthase; Phytoestrogens