Genistein: Impact on Reproduction

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Genistein: Impact on Reproduction Fotios Tsanakalis1 and Paraskevi Papaioannidou1* 1 Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Pharmacology, Greece Genistein is an isoflavone with estrogenic activity, found in dietary plants. It is the phytoestrogen with the highest estrogenic activity found in soy. Genistein binds to estrogen receptors α and β and increases the expression of estrogen responsive genes. Although it binds to estrogen receptors with much weaker affinity than estradiol, it may act as an estrogen receptor agonist or mixed agonist/antagonist and may disrupt the endocrine system. There is evidence that prenatal exposure of rats to genistein is followed by an increase in mammary gland cancer rates, while neonatal exposure induces uterine adenocarcinoma in later life. Perinatal exposure of male rats to genistein has been related to testicular dysgenesis syndrome and modulation of normal masculinization. In addition, genistein has been found to hinder the process of acrosomal exocytosis and the binding of spermatozoa to the zona pellucida, thus affecting male fertility. Indirect adverse effects on testes have also been described, mediated through the modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. In female mice, perinatal exposure to genistein has been related to altered ovarian function, disrupted estrous cyclicity, and subfertility, while neonatal exposure resulted in disorders of follicular development. In spite of its beneficial effect in menopause and its potential protective effect in cancer, genistein disrupts the endocrine system and may affect the reproductive system. Soy consumption and exposure to high doses of genistein should be a matter of concern during crucial life periods such as pregnancy, lactation and early development. Keywords: Genistein, estrogen disruptors, Fertility, soy Conference: 8th Southeast European Congress on Xenobiotic Metabolism and Toxicity - XEMET 2010, Thessaloniki, Greece, 1 Oct - 5 Oct, 2010. Presentation Type: Poster Topic: Xenobiotics and reproduction Citation: Tsanakalis F and Papaioannidou P (2010). Genistein: Impact on Reproduction. Front. Pharmacol. Conference Abstract: 8th Southeast European Congress on Xenobiotic Metabolism and Toxicity - XEMET 2010. doi: 10.3389/conf.fphar.2010.60.00208 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 28 Oct 2010; Published Online: 04 Nov 2010. * Correspondence: Dr. Paraskevi Papaioannidou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Pharmacology, Thessaloniki, Greece, ppap@auth.gr Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Fotios Tsanakalis Paraskevi Papaioannidou Google Fotios Tsanakalis Paraskevi Papaioannidou Google Scholar Fotios Tsanakalis Paraskevi Papaioannidou PubMed Fotios Tsanakalis Paraskevi Papaioannidou Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.