ABSTRACT
The objective of this study is to examine the effects of genistein on endothelial dysfunction in bilateral ovariectomized rats. Female Wistar rats were subjected to a bilateral ovariectomy (OVX rat). The animals were divided into three groups: sham treated with vehicle (DMSO 100 microliters/day, Shamveh), OVX treated with vehicle (DMSO 100 microliters/day, OVXveh), and OVX treated with genistein (0.25 mg/kg BW/day, OVXgen). Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), body weight (BW), uterine weight and plasma E2 were monitored at 4-week after the treatment. We investigated the endothelium-dependent and -independent vasorelaxation by using acetylcholine (Ach 10(-6) M) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP 10(-7) M), respectively. The experimental results indicated that the uterine weights of all OVX rats were significantly decreased as compared to the sham groups (OVXveh = 0.007+/-0.004 g, OVXgen =0.003+/-0.001 g, Shamveh =0.017+/-0.001 g). MAP of OVXveh group was significantly increased compared to the Sham group (OVXveh=139.99+/-7.50 mmHg, Shamveh =118.10+/-19.33 mmHg, p<0.05). No significant increase in MAP was observed in OVXgen (OVXgen =123.33+/-8.61 mmHg; p<0.05). HR showed no significant difference among those groups. The present study of vasodilator responses demonstrated only the significant decrease in endothelium-dependent, not for endothelium-independence, in OVX rats, while the treatment of genistein could significantly attenuate this abnormality (OVXveh =3.03+/-3.99%, Shamveh =45.46+/-3.59%, OVXgen =33.52+/-3.25% in % change of vessel diameter). The present findings suggest that genistein could be used as a therapeutic agent for menopausal vascular complications.
