Department of Histology and Embryology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
Nutrition. 2011 Mar;27(3):372-9. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2010.03.010. Epub 2010 Dec 16.
This study aimed to determine the influence of high-dose soy isoflavones (daidzein and genistein) administered from prenatal life to sexual maturity on testosterone and estradiol levels, testicular and epididymal morphology, the number of epididymal spermatozoa, and mineral metabolism in rats.
Pregnant Wistar rats received orally soy isoflavones, daidzein, and genistein at a dose of 200 mg/kg of body weight per day. After separating sucklings from their mothers, male rats received the same dose of isoflavones until reaching the age of sexual maturity, i.e., for 3 mo.
In the isoflavone-treated group, statistically significant decreased concentrations of zinc (determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry) in blood serum and increased concentrations in bone were observed. The isoflavones induced changes in the morphology of the seminiferous epithelium of rat testes. However, there were no significant changes in the number of spermatozoa in the epididymis. The levels of estradiol in serum and cauda epididymis homogenates of rats receiving phytoestrogens were significantly higher than in the control group. No differences were observed in testosterone concentrations in the serum of treated and control rats. The testosterone levels in the homogenates of the treated rat testes were significantly lower than in the control group.
The relatively mild effects of phytoestrogen administration on the morphology of testes and epididymides and the number of epididymal spermatozoa were observed despite the high dose used. The exposure of rats to genistein and daidzein during intrauterine life until sexual maturity influenced the mineral metabolism of the organism by significant decreases of Zn concentration in serum and increased Zn concentration in bones.
本研究旨在确定从产前到性成熟阶段给予大鼠高剂量大豆异黄酮（大豆苷元和染料木黄酮）对睾酮和雌二醇水平、睾丸和附睾形态、附睾精子数量以及矿物质代谢的影响。
妊娠 Wistar 大鼠每天口服给予大豆异黄酮、大豆苷元和染料木黄酮，剂量为 200mg/kg 体重。幼仔与母亲分离后，雄性大鼠继续给予相同剂量的异黄酮，直至达到性成熟，即 3 个月。
在异黄酮处理组中，使用原子吸收分光光度法测定，血清中锌的浓度显著降低，而骨骼中的浓度增加。异黄酮诱导大鼠睾丸曲细精管的形态发生变化。然而，附睾中精子的数量没有显著变化。接受植物雌激素的大鼠血清和附睾尾部匀浆中的雌二醇水平明显高于对照组。处理组和对照组大鼠血清中睾酮浓度无差异。处理组大鼠睾丸匀浆中的睾酮水平明显低于对照组。
尽管使用了高剂量，但观察到植物雌激素对睾丸和附睾形态以及附睾精子数量的影响相对较轻。在宫内生命至性成熟期间，大鼠暴露于染料木黄酮和大豆苷元会通过显著降低血清中 Zn 浓度和增加骨骼中 Zn 浓度来影响机体的矿物质代谢。
