A phytoestrogen diet induces the premature anovulatory syndrome in lactationally exposed female rats.

Abstract

The effects of a phytoestrogen diet on sexual differentiation were examined in lactationally exposed rat pups. Rat dams were provided a semipurified diet containing the isoflavonoid coumestrol at a concentration (0.01%) previously found to be uterotrophic. Coumestrol treatment did not significantly alter the time of vaginal opening, although vaginal opening did occur at a lighter body weight. By 132 days of age, 83% of coumestrol-treated females exhibited the cornified smears of a persistent estrous state. By contrast, 91% of control animals were cycling regularly at 132 days of age. Estradiol stimulation failed to elicit an LH elevation in the coumestrol-treated animals, suggesting the possibility of neuroendocrine impairments. These findings indicate that the female offspring of mothers fed a low-level phytoestrogen diet during lactation manifest early and nearly universal disruption of cyclicity of the persistent-estrus type.

• Authors: P L Whitten, C Lewis, F Naftolin
• Journal: Biology of reproduction (Biol Reprod) Vol. 49 Issue 5 Pg. 1117-21 (Nov 1993) ISSN: 0006-3363 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8286579 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Estrogens
• Estrogens, Non-Steroidal
• Isoflavones
• Phytoestrogens
• Plant Preparations
• Luteinizing Hormone
• Coumestrol

Topics

• Animals
• Anovulation (etiology, physiopathology)
• Body Weight
• Coumestrol (toxicity)
• Diet (adverse effects)
• Eating
• Estrogens (toxicity)
• Estrogens, Non-Steroidal
• Female
• Isoflavones
• Lactation
• Luteinizing Hormone (metabolism)
• Phytoestrogens
• Plant Preparations
• Plants, Edible
• Pregnancy
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Sexual Maturation (drug effects, physiology)
• Syndrome