Sains Malaysiana 41(1)(2012): 63–69

Effects of Soya Bean Extract, Bisphenol A and 17β-Estradiol on the Testis and Circulating Levels of Testosterone and Estradiol Among Peripubertal Juvenile Male Sprague-Dawle Rats

(Kesan Ekstrak Soya, Bisfenol A dan 17β-Estradiol pada Testis dan Aras Edaran Testosteron

dan Estradiol dikalangan Tikus Remaja Jantan Sprague-Dawley)

Anwar Norazit & Mustafa Ali Mohd

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya

50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Mahmood Ameen Abdulla

Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya

50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Jamaludin Mohamad*, Shaharudin Abdul Razak & Ashriya Azmil

Institute of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya

50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 2 December 2010 / Accepted: 16 May 2011

ABSTRACT

In this study, juvenile male Sprague-Dawley rats (PND 22) were fed with soya extract, bisphenol A, and 17β-estradiol respectively by oral gavage to determine the potential effect on the morphology of their reproductive organs and their hormonal levels. After three weeks of treatment (PND 43), all animals were sacrificed and the blood and testes were collected. All the three treatment groups showed histological differences in testes morphology compared to the control. Animals treated with soya extract and bisphenol A showed a decrease in circulating estradiol levels while animals treated with 17β-estradiol showed elevated circulating levels of estradiol. Only the animals treated with soya extract showed elevated levels of circulating testosterone. The results of the present study showed that, soya extract, bisphenol A, and 17β-estradiol can alter the histological structure of the testes and influence circulating steroidal hormone levels.

Keywords: 17β-estradiol; bisphenol A; phytoestrogen; reproductive system; steroidal hormone

ABSTRAK

Dalam kajian ini, remaja tikus Sprague-Dawley (PND 22) jantan telah diberi makan ekstrak soya, bisfenol A dan 17β-etradiol masing-masing secara gavaj oral untuk menentukan kesan berpotensi pada organ pembiakan dan paras hormon. Selepas tiga minggu rawatan (PND 43), kesemua haiwan dibunuh dan darah serta testis diambil. Kesemua kumpulan rawatan menunjukkan perbezaan histologi  pada morfologi testis berbanding kawalan. Haiwan yang diberi rawatan ekstrak soya dan bisfenol A menunjukkan penurunan paras peredaran estradiol manakala haiwan yang diberi rawatan 17β-estradiol menunjukkan peningkatan paras estradiol. Hanya haiwan yang diberi rawatan ekstrak soya menunjukkan peningkatan paras peredaran testosteron. Keputusan kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa ekstrak soya, bisfenol A dan 17β-estradiol boleh mengubah struktur histologi testis dan mempengaruhi peredaran paras hormon steroid.

Kata kunci: 17β-estradiol; bisfenol A; fitoestrogen; hormon steroid; sistem pembiakan

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*Corresponding author; email: jamal@um.edu.my