The effect of methanol extract of soybean seeds (Glycine max L.Merr.) on the histology and immunohistochemical distribution of Cyp19 aromatase in rat testis (Rattus norvegicus L.)

Abstract

Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) contains phytoestrogens that have a chemical structure resembling estrogen in the body. They function like estrogen and antiestrogen, affecting the metabolism of sex steroid hormones. This research aimed to determine the effect of the methanol extract of soybean on the histological structure and distribution of immunohistochemical Cyp19 aromatase in rat testis . Twenty males of Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 5. The frst group was the control and the second to fourth groups were given soybean extract (250 mg/kg of body weight, 500 mg/kg of body weight) and genistein (0.3 mg/kg of body weight), respectively, for 52 days. The results of this study indicate that the effect of methanol extract from soybean caused weight gain, and the weight of the testis and epididymis decreased. In addition, the histological results showed that seminiferous tubules were reduced in size, became irregular, were separated by a wide interstitium, and spermatogenic cells were decreased. The immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of Cyp19 aromatase in the rats decreased both in spermatocyte cells and Leydig cells. It could be concluded that the methanol extract of soybean induced testicular damage and reduced Cyp19 aromatase expression in rat testis.