The Effect of Soy Milk on Mounting Latency, Mounting Frequency, and Reproductive Development in Male Wistar Rats (Rattus Norvegicus)

Abstract

AIM: This research aims to examine the effects of soy milk on mounting latency (ML), mounting frequency (MF), estrogen levels, androgen-binding protein (ABP) expression, and spermatogenesis in male rats (Rattus norvegicus).
 METHODS: Twenty-four male wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) aged 4 weeks were divided into four groups. Control group (given a normal diet), P1; P2; P3 (given the normal diet and soy milk powder at doses of 7.1; 14.2; 21.3 g/KgBW/day, respectively) for 6 weeks. Observation of ML and MF were performed at 9 weeks 5 days of age, and rat surgery was performed at 10 weeks of age. Analysis of estrogen hormone levels was conducted by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), ABP staining was using immunohistochemistry method, testicular spermatogenesis was observed using histopathological methods, and observation of spermatozoa was performed under the microscope.
 RESULTS: The results showed no significant reduction of ML and MF, estrogen levels, and ABP expression (p ≤ 0.256; 0.865; 0.959, respectively) in male rat, but there was a significant decrease in the number, morphology, motility of spermatozoa, and testicular histophatology, (p ≤ 0.000, 0.003, 0.008, 0.000, respectively).
 CONCLUSION: The administrassion of soy milk in various doses (7.1;14.2;21.3 g/KgBW/day) in male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) had showed significantly difference on histopathological evaluation using Johnson’s scoring system, sperm quantity and quality, while on mounting latency and frequency, estrogen levels, and ABP expressions did not show significantly difference between groups. That describe of isoflavone in soy milk can affect several aspects related to male endocrine and reproductive development.