title: Effects of genistein on neuronal apoptosis, and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in the hippocampus of ovariectomized rats.
abstract: Genistein is one of several isoflavones that has a structure similar to 17β-estradiol, has a strong antioxidant effect, and a high affinity to estrogen receptors. At 15 weeks after ovariectomy, the expression of Bcl-2 in the hippocampus of rats decreased and Bax expression increased, with an obvious upregulation of apoptosis. However, intraperitoneal injection of genistein or 17β-estradiol for 15 consecutive weeks from the second day after operation upregulated Bcl-2 protein expression, downregulated Bax protein expression, and attenuated hippocampal neuron apoptosis. Our experimental findings indicate that long-term intervention with genistein can lead to a decrease in apoptosis in hippocampal neurons following ovariectomy, upregulate the expression of Bcl-2, and downregulate the expression of Bax. In addition, genistein and 17β-estradiol play equal anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective roles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Huiling
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Ruchun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tan
keywords: 17β-estradiol; Bax; Bcl-2; apoptosis; brain injury; genistein; hippocampus; neural regeneration; ovariectomized model; rats