title: Neonatal isoflavone exposure interferes with the reproductive system of female Wistar rats.
abstract: There is increasing concern about possible adverse effects of soy based infant formulas (SBIF) due to their high amount of isoflavones (ISO). The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of neonatal exposure to ISO on reproductive system of female Wistar rats. Animals were exposed to an ISO depleted diet or a diet enriched with an ISO extract (IRD; 508mg ISO/kg) during embryogenesis and adolescence. Pups of each group were fed daily by pipette with ISO-suspension (ISO+; 32mg ISO/kg bw) or placebo from postnatal day (PND) 1 until PND23 resulting in plasma concentrations similar to levels reported in infants fed SBIF. The visceral fat mass was reduced by long-term IRD. Vaginal epithelial height was increased at PND23 and vaginal opening was precocious in ISO+ groups. Later in life, more often irregular estrus cycles were observed in rats of ISO+ groups. In addition, FSH levels and uterine epithelial heights were increased at PND80 in ISO+ groups. In summary, the results indicate that neonatal ISO intake, resulting in plasma concentrations achievable through SBIF, has an estrogenic effect on prepubertal rats and influences female reproductive tract later in life.
authors: Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Dennis R
authors: DR
authors: Müller
authors: Department of Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables, Max Rubner-Institut, Karlsruhe, Germany, Germany.
authors: Sebastian T
authors: ST
authors: Soukup
authors: Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Kurrat
authors: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, China.
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Liu
authors: Clinic for Cattle, Endocrinology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
authors: Marion
authors: M
authors: Schmicke
authors: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, China.
authors: Ming-Yong
authors: MY
authors: Xie
authors: Department of Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables, Max Rubner-Institut, Karlsruhe, Germany, Germany.
authors: Sabine E
authors: SE
authors: Kulling
authors: Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany. Electronic address: diel@dshs-koeln.de.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Diel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000187:drug effects; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects; D013025:Glycine max; D014621:Vagina / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D007529:Isoflavones
keywords: Female reproductive tract; Neonatal exposure; Soy based infant nutrition; Soy isoflavones