Endocrine Abstracts

Daidzein, one of the main phytoestrogens of soy, is able to act as estrogen-like compounds due to its structural similarity with 17β-estradiol, which gives them the capacity to bind estrogen receptors and to induce hormone-like effects. Considering, that somatotropic system is sensitive to sex steroids, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of daidzein on stereological and biochemical parameters of pituitary somatotropic (GH) cells in orchidectomized adult ...

Glucocorticoids affect the growth and maturation of fetal organ systems, but overexposure to exogenous glucocorticoids retard fetal growth and may alter developmental process in sensitive tissues. On the other hand, fetal ovary is not characterized by definitive follicular structure, but the clusters of germinative cells are predominant. Germ cells may be in meiotic prophase or with sign of degeneration.The aim of this study was to determine whether pren...

Aging is a complex process characterized by a progressive decline in cellular function, alterations of the endocrine system and the increased incidence of thyroid diseases. Citrus flavanones naringenin (NAR) and hesperetin (HES) may contribute to maintenance of health at old age however they may also affect thyroid hormone economy. The aim of this study was to test weather NAR or HES administration alter thyroid functioning. NAR or HES were administrated orally (15 mg/kg) to m...

Diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin of natural origin, demonstrated some therapeutic effects when it comes to the treatment of cardiovascular issues, malignancies and the menopausal symptoms. In this study, we have investigated histological changes and corticosterone secretion of the adrenal gland after diosgenin application in a rat model of the menopause. Middle-aged, acyclic female Wistar rats were divided into control (C; n=6) and diosgenin treated (D; n=6) ...

The cholesterol oxidation product 27-hydroxycholesterol (27OHC) is enzymatically produced from cholesterol by CYP27A1 in an alternative pathway of cholesterol degradation to bile acids. This oxysterol also acts as an endogenous selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). In healthy humans its concentration in circulation increases in hypercholesterolemia and with age, and is associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases and breast cancer. Several...

Citrus flavanone naringenin (NAR) is a potent antioxidant with ability to change pituitary-thyroid function. NAR increases concentration of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in serum by increasing Sirtuin1 expression in the pituitary thyrotrophs and improves thyroid hormonogenesis capacity in old-aged rats. Thyroid hormone production is followed by generation of large quantities of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are essential for iodine organification. A master regulator ...

Soy isoflavone daidzein exerts some beneficial effects in different ageing-related, chronic diseases and may represent a promising alternative to classical estrogenization of the prostate cancer suffering subjects. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of daidzein on the adrenocortical vascular network and hormonal output in a rat model of the mild andropause. Adult (3 months old) Wistar rats were divided into sham-operated (SO; n=7), orchi...

Hypercholesterolemia is associated with athero-thrombotic disease, a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Advances in both dietary and pharmacological interventions contribute to prevention and treatment of modifiable risk factors.Purified soybean phytoestrogens, isoflavones genistein (GEN) and daidzein (DAI), were reported to exert moderate cholesterol-lowering effect. In this research first we studied age-related modifications in hepatic cholesterol metabolism and serum est...