Morphological effects of isoflavones (daidzein and genistein) on hypothalamic oxytocin neurons in the neonatal mouse brain slice cultures

► Genistein decreased the cell size of oxytocin neurons in the supraoptic nucleus of male mice. ► Daidzein and 17β-estradiol increased varicosity in small (<21 μm diameter) oxytocin neurons in female PVN. ► Daidzein and genistein, as well as 17β-estradiol, induced prominent vacuolation of oxytocin neurons. ► IFs modulate morphologically the hypothalamic oxytocin system through site-specific and sexually dimorphic manners.