Effect of genistein and 17¦Âª²estradiol on reproductive system in ovariecomized rats

    HUANG Yanª²Hong, XIN Xiaoª²Yan, CHEN Yaª²Qiong

    Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To investigate the effects of genistein( GST) and 17ª²¦Âestradiol (E2 ) on the reproductive system in ovariectomized rats. METHODS: Forty adult Spragueª²Dawley female rats were randomly divided into five groups: the Shamª²ovariectomized (Sham), the ovariectomized (OVX), the 17¦Âª²estradiol (E2, 400 ¦Ìg/©K/d), the GST higher dosage (GSTª²h, 50 mg/kg/d) and the GST lower dosage (GSTª²L, 25 mg/kg/d). After treatment for 6 weeks, the level of serum estradiol was detected by radioimmunoassay in all the animals. All of the ovariectomized rats were sacrificed to measure the percentage of vaginal keratinized epithelial cells. Body weight and uterus index were also determined in all the animals. RESULTS: 17¦Âª²estradiol treatment obviously increased the serum estradiol concentration, uterus index and the percentage of vaginal keratinized epithelial cells in OVX rats (P<0.001 vs OVX). Genistein at a lower dosage significantly increased the uterus index and the percentage of vaginal keratinized epithelial cells in OVX rats (P<0.001 vs OVX), but genistein at a higher dosage did not augment the uterus index and the percentage of vaginal keratinized epithelial cells in OVX rats (P>0.05 vs OVX). The treatment with either a higher or a lower dosage of genistein did not alter the serum estradiol level following bilateral ovariectomy. CONCLUSION: Genistein at a lower dosage plays a milder estrogenª²like role in the reproductive system of ovariectomized rats, but its effects are significantly less than that of estrogen. Genistein at a higher dosage plays an inhibitive role in the reproductive system of ovariectomized rats. ......