Mechanism of phytoestrogens action in reproductive processes of mammals and birds.

Phytoestrogens are polyphenolic compounds that occur ubiquitously in food of plant origin and they have a variety of biological effects in numerous animal cell systems in vivo as well in vitro. Results of studies conducted on animals have shown that effects of phytoestrogens vary depending on species, sex, routes of administration, dose and exposure time. This review summarizes the results of ours studies concerning: 1/ molecular mechanism of phytoestrogen action in porcine granulosa cells, 2/ the involvement of phytoestrogens in immunological regulations of bovine corpus luteum function during luteolysis, 3/ genistein action on metabotropic hormones and lipid-carbohydrate metabolism in rats during pregnancy, 4/ the effects of phytoestrogens on reproductive processes in males of biłgoraj goose.