Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1923969 | Acta Histochemica | 2012 | 6 Pages |
The effects of genistein on pituitary gonadotropic cells of immature female rats were examined and compared to actions of the synthetic estrogen, 17α-ethynylestradiol. Immature female rats received 50 mg/kg/bw of genistein in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) subcutaneously (s.c.) daily for 3 days at 18, 19 and 20 days of age. A second group was injected with 1 μg/kg of 17α-ethynylestradiol in olive oil in the same schedule. The genistein control group received DMSO only, while 17α-ethynylestradiol controls were given sterile olive oil only. Changes in cell number per mm2, cell volume and volume density of follicle-stimulating (FSH) and luteinizing (LH) immunolabeled cells were evaluated by morphometry and stereology. Genistein induced significant increases in the number of FSH cells (by 21%) and LH cells (by 20%) per mm2 compared to corresponding controls. Volumes of FSH and LH cells were significantly increased by 19.7% and 20% and their volume densities by 20% and 20.2%, respectively. Estradiol markedly affected gonadotropes in the same manner, but to a greater extent. It can be concluded that genistein acted as an estrogenic agonist in the pituitaries of immature female rats, and as such, stimulated gonadotropic cells.