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ToxSci Advance Access originally published online on March 3, 2007
Toxicological Sciences 2007 97(2):299-307; doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfm036
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Toxicology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Genistein Accumulates in Body Depots and Is Mobilized during Fasting, Reaching Estrogenic Levels in Serum that Counter the Hormonal Actions of Estradiol and Organochlorines

Marialetizia Penza*, Claudia Montani*, Annalisa Romani{dagger}, Pamela Vignolini{dagger}, Paolo Ciana{ddagger}, Adriana Maggi{ddagger}, Barbara Pampaloni§, Luigi Caimi and Diego Di Lorenzo*,1

* 3rd Laboratory/Biotechnology, Civic Hospital of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy {dagger} Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy {ddagger} Centre of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy § Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy Department of Diagnostics, Civic Hospital/University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. Fax: +39 030 307251. E-mail: dilorenzodiego{at}yahoo.it.

Received November 3, 2006; accepted February 26, 2007


   Abstract

Isoflavones are important dietary compounds that are consumed with the daily diet and elicit important biological actions. Here we report on the ability of genistein to partially accumulate in body depots of male mice, be released following fasting, and modulate the actions of estradiol and environmental estrogens in reproductive and nonreproductive target organs of estrogen-reporter mice (ERE-tK-luciferase). After the consumption of 50 mg/kg/day for 3 days, genistein accumulates in body compartments where it remains at functionally active levels for at least 15 days. Following 48 h of fasting, its concentration increased in serum from 99 ± 13 to 163 ± 17nM. These levels are sufficient to exert an estrogenic effect in the testis and liver, as revealed by a twofold increase in luciferase gene expression. ß-Benzene-hexachloride (ßBHC) given at the concentration of 100 mg/kg/day for 3 days also accumulates in the body and is released by fasting, reaching serum levels of 176 ± 33nM, upregulating the luciferase gene in the liver and inhibiting its expression in the testis. When genistein was given in combination with ßBHC at doses sufficient to induce accumulation of both in body depots, the genistein mobilized by fasting reversed the action of the mobilized ßBHC in the testis. Acute administration of nutritional doses of genistein inhibited the action of estradiol and reversed the antiestrogenic action of o,p'-DDT: 1,1,1,-trichloro-2(p-chlorophenyl)-2-(o-chlorophenyl)ethane in the liver and the antiestrogenic action of ßBHC in the testis. Genistein had an additive effect with the ER agonist p,p'-DDT: 1,1,1,-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane in the liver. The observed effects may be relevant to a protective action of phytoestrogens against estrogen receptor–interacting pollutants as well as the dietary modulation of estradiol action.

Key Words: phytoestrogens; estrogen receptors; estrogen responsive elements; reporter mice; endocrine disruptors.


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