The effects of Soy isoflavones and major active component genistein on the expression of LRH-1 gene in rat ovaries

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of Soy isoflavones on the expression of liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1) gene within aging ovary of rats and ovarian granulosa cell cultured in vitro treated with Genistein,which is a major active component of SI.Methods The animal model of perimenopause rats was established by unforced aging,were treated by intragastric administration ( ig ) with low (50 mg/kg),moderate (158 mg/kg) and high (500 mg/kg) dose of SI for 8 weeks.Expression of LRH-1 mRNA were detected by in situ hybridization and RT-PCR,respectively.Female Wistar rats were injected subcutaneously with pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG),ovarian granulosa cells were collected and incubated for 24h,and then granulosa cells were administered with genistein (0,0.1,1,5,10,100 μmol/L) and ICI182,780( 1 μmol/L) for 24 h.LRH-1 mRNA expression levels were assessed by RT-PCR.Results Compared with the control model group ( 0.460 + 0.082 ),LRH-1 mRNA in the aging ovary(low dose 0.563 ±0.037,moderate dose 0.926 +0.127,high dose 1.223 ±0.134),were ihcreased significantly( P ＜ 0.05 ).1 ～ 10 μmol/L Genistein could increase the expression of LRH-1mRNA ( low dose 0.844 ± 0.042.Moderate dose 0.879 ± 0.056,high dose 0.882 ± 0.079 ) in the rats granulosa cells treated for 24 h ( P ＜ 0.05 ).UP - regulation of the expression of LRH-1 mRNA by 1 ～ 10 μmol/L Genistein was not in fluenced by ICI182,780 (1 μ mol/L,pretreated for 30 min).Conclusion Soy Isoflavones could up-regulate the expression of LRH-1 mRNA in aging ovaries.1 ～ 10 μmol/L Genistein could up-regulate the expressions LRH-1 mRNA of granulosa cells in rat ovaries,which was probably not mediated by classical ER pathway. Key words: Soy Isoflavones (SI); Genistein; Perimenopause; Ovary; Granulosa cell; Liver receptor homolog-1(LRH-1)