Abstract
This study aimed to determine whether genistein diet resulted in changes in cardiac function, using echocardiography, and expression of key proteins involved in glucose uptake by the myocardium. Intact male and female C57BL/6J mice (aged 4–6 weeks) were fed either 600 mg genistein/kg diet (600 G) or 0 mg genistein/kg diet (0 G) for 4 weeks. Echocardiography data revealed sex-dependent differences in the absence of genistein: compared to females, hearts from males exhibited increased systolic left ventricle internal dimension (LVIDs), producing a decrease in function, expressed as fractional shortening (FS). Genistein diet also induced echocardiographic changes in function: in female hearts, 600G induced a 1.5-fold (P < 0.05) increase in LVIDs, resulting in a significant decrease in FS and whole heart surface area when compared to controls (fed 0 G). Genistein diet increased cardiac GLUT4 protein expression in both males (1.51-fold, P < 0.05) and females (1.76-fold, P < 0.05). However, no effects on the expression of notable intracellular signaling glucose uptake-regulated proteins were observed. Our data indicate that consumption of genistein diet for 4 weeks induces echocardiographic changes in indices of systolic function in females and has beneficial effects on cardiac GLUT4 protein expression in both males and females.
Highlights
Genistein, a naturally occurring isoflavonic phytoestrogen, is found in high concentrations in soy products [1]
Of interest is the increase in Glucose transporter 4 CFTR (GLUT4) translocation in the myocardium, because previous studies have shown that improving glucose metabolism in the failing or insulinresistant heart is associated with cardioprotection [18]
We found in female mice a genisteindependent increase (1.48-fold) in systolic left ventricle internal dimension (LVIDs), with a concomitant significant 44% decrease in fractional shortening (FS)
Summary
A naturally occurring isoflavonic phytoestrogen, is found in high concentrations in soy products [1]. In order to determine the metabolic underpinnings explaining reduced cardiovascular heath in postmenopausal women, several studies using well-established rodent models of postmenopause have assessed the effects of genistein as an alternative to estrogen replacement on cardiac function in ovariectomized (OVX) mouse models. In the absence of ovariectomy (i.e., in intact mice), feeding mice a genisteincontaining diet for a period of 8 weeks improved cardiovascular risk factors and aortic reactivity and produced favorable effects on glucose metabolism by increasing the expression of GLUT4 in the myocardium [17]. To our knowledge there have been no studies to date aimed at examining the combined effects of genistein on in vivo cardiac function and structure, in addition to protein expression relating to glucose uptake in healthy mice. The effect of genistein diet on the expression of key proteins involved in the translocation of GLUT4 through insulin signaling mechanisms in cardiac tissue was determined
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