Changes of growth hormone-releasing hormone and somatostatin neurons in the rat hypothalamus induced by genistein: a stereological study
2016
Authors:
Trifunović, Svetlana![](/themes/MirageIBISS/images/orcid.png)
Manojlović-Stojanoski, Milica
![](/themes/MirageIBISS/images/orcid.png)
Ristić, Nataša
![](/themes/MirageIBISS/images/orcid.png)
Nestorović, Nataša
![](/themes/MirageIBISS/images/orcid.png)
Jarić, Ivana
![](/themes/MirageIBISS/images/orcid.png)
Živanović, Jasmina
![](/themes/MirageIBISS/images/orcid.png)
Milošević, Verica
![](/themes/MirageIBISS/images/orcid.png)
Document Type:
Article (Published version)
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© W. S. Maney & Son Ltd 2014
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Show full item recordAbstract:
Objectives: Genistein is a plant-derived estrogenic isoflavone commonly found in dietary and therapeutic
supplements, due to its potential health benefits. Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and
somatostatin (SS) are neurosecretory peptides synthesized in neurons of the hypothalamus and regulate
the growth hormone secretion. Early reports indicate that estrogens have highly involved in the regulation
of GHRH and SS secretions. Since little is known about the potential effects of genistein on GHRH and SS
neurons, we exposed rats to genistein.
Methods: Genistein were administered to adult rats in dose of 30 mg/kg, for 3 weeks. The estradioldipropionate treatment was used as the adequate controls to genistein. Using applied stereology on
histological sections of hypothalamus, we obtained the quantitative information on arcuate (Arc) and
periventricular (Pe) nucleus volume and volume density of GHRH neurons and SS neurons. Image
analyses were used to obtain GHRH and SS contents in the median eminence (ME).
Results: Administration of estradiol-dipropionate caused the increase of Arc and Pe nucleus volume, SS
neuron volume density, GHRH and SS staining intensity in the ME, when compared with control. Genistein
treatment increased: Arc nucleus volume and the volume density of GHRH neurons (by 26%) and SS
neurons (1.5 fold), accompanied by higher GHRH and SS staining intensity in the ME, when compared to
the orhidectomized group.
Discussion: These results suggest that genistein has a significant effect on hypothalamic region, involved in
the regulation of somatotropic system function, and could contribute to the understanding of genistein as
substance that alter the hormonal balance.
Keywords:
SS; Histology; Stereology; GHRH; GenisteinSource:
Nutritional Nuroscience, 2016, 19, 10, 467-474Funding / projects:
- The effects of select plant extracts, phytoestrogens, steroid and peptide hormones on the rat neuroendocrine system (RS-MESTD-Basic Research (BR or ON)-173009)
DOI: 10.1179/1476830514Y.0000000143
ISSN: 1028-415X
PubMed: 25087680