title: Effects of soy phytoestrogens on pituitary-ovarian function in middle-aged female rats.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of genistein (G) and daidzein (D) on the histological, hormonal, and functional parameters of the pituitary-ovarian axis in middle-aged female rats, and to compare these effects with the effects of estradiol (E), commonly used in the prevention and treatment of menopausal symptoms. Middle-aged (12 month old) Wistar female rats subcutaneously received 35 mg/kg of G, or 35 mg/kg of D, or 0.625 mg/kg of E every day for 4 weeks. Each of the treated groups had a corresponding control group. An intact control group was also established. G and D did not change the intracellular protein content within gonadotropic and lactotropic cells, but vacuolization was observed in all the cell types. In contrast, E caused an inhibition of gonadotropic and stimulation of lactotropic cells. Also, ovaries of middle-aged female rats exposed to G or D have more healthy primordial and primary follicles and less atretic follicles. E treatment in the ovaries had a mostly negative effect, which is reflected by the increased number of atretic follicles in all tested classes. G and D provoked decrease in CuZnSOD and CAT activity, while E treatment increased MnSOD and decreased CuZnSOD and GSHPx activity. All the treatments increased serum estradiol and decreased testosterone levels, while D and E increased the serum progesterone level. In conclusion, soy phytoestrogens exhibited beneficial effects on pituitary-ovarian function in middle-aged female rats, as compared to estradiol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Citology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. ivana84@ibiss.bg.ac.rs.
authors.forename: Ivana M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Medigović
authors.affiliation: Department of Citology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Jasmina B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Živanović
authors.affiliation: Department of Citology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Vladimir Z
authors.initials: VZ
authors.lastname: Ajdžanović
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Aleksandra L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Nikolić-Kokić
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Biochemistry, Clinical Centre of Serbia, School of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Sanja D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Stanković
authors.affiliation: Department of Citology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Svetlana L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Trifunović
authors.affiliation: Department of Citology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Verica Lj
authors.initials: VLj
authors.lastname: Milošević
authors.affiliation: Department of Citology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Nataša M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Nestorović
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D006728:Hormones; D007529:Isoflavones; D048789:Phytoestrogens; C004742:daidzein; D019833:Genistein
keywords: Daidzein; Estradiol; Genistein; Pituitary-ovarian function