Planta Med 2019; 85(18): 1548
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3400089
Main Congress Poster
Poster Session 2
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Sexual behavior of ovariectomized female rats after chronic genistein administration

A Tero-Vescan
1   Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Tîrgu Mureș, University of Medicine,, Gheorghe Marinescu street 39, 540139 Tîrgu Mureş, Romania
,
A Miklos
1   Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Tîrgu Mureș, University of Medicine,, Gheorghe Marinescu street 39, 540139 Tîrgu Mureş, Romania
,
BE Ősz
1   Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Tîrgu Mureș, University of Medicine,, Gheorghe Marinescu street 39, 540139 Tîrgu Mureş, Romania
,
C Filip
1   Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Tîrgu Mureș, University of Medicine,, Gheorghe Marinescu street 39, 540139 Tîrgu Mureş, Romania
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
20 December 2019 (online)

 

Genistein is an isoflavonoid extracted from soy with phytoestrogenic effects. It is a β2-estrogen receptors agonist, having a similar molecular structure with endogenous estrogens [1]. Hormonal decline occurring in postmenopausal women causes decreased libido, besides other unplesant symptoms like flushes, dryness of the vaginal mucosa etc. [2]. The purpose of this study was to highlight estrogen-like effects of genistein in female rats castrated prior to the onset of puberty. Four groups of female rats were divided as follows: lot GEN (10 castrated rats treated with genistein i.p. 10mg/kg/day for 8 weeks), lot ESTR (10 castrated rats treated with 10 µg/kg bw/day 17β-estradiol for 8 weeks), lot OVX (10 castrated and untreated rats) and lot NORM (10 rats in control group). The rats were left in the presence of the males for 2 hours a day and were monitored for one week. The prospective behavior (male interest) and the copulative behavior (lordosis) were evaluated. Results: There was a significant difference in rats behavior towards male, in the OVX lot compared to GEN, ESTR and NORM, as they became aggressive in the presence of the male. There was no difference between the behavior of the rats in the NORM and ESTR group, which shows that the hormone replacement therapy with estradiol was effective. In the GEN lot, the presence of prospective behavior was observed, but the number of lordosis positions adopted by animals was lower than the NORM and ESTR lot. The study demonstrates the influence of genistein on sexual behavior, but the agonist-antagonist effect depending on the endogenous level of estradiol should be also considered.

 

  • References

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    PubMed