饲喂雌鼠大豆异黄酮对后代雌性生殖性状的影响

目的研究雌性小鼠饲喂异黄酮后对其后代雌鼠生殖性状的影响。方法分别在雌鼠从断奶到妊娠前和妊娠期间两个不同阶段的日粮中添加不同剂量的大豆异黄酮（0、50、400 mg/kg）。记录F1代的出生窝产仔数、出生窝重、雌鼠的阴道最早开张时间和最早见栓时间,以及后代雌鼠性成熟期和体成熟期生殖器官重量、血清雌激素的含量。结果雌鼠妊娠期饲喂含50、400 mg/kg大豆异黄酮的饲料后F1代的窝产仔数显著高于对照组（P〈0.05）;雌鼠妊娠期采食400 mg/kg大豆异黄酮饲料,其后代雌鼠初次配种时间明显延迟（P〈0.05）;45、65日龄体重显著低于对照组,65日龄子宫重显著低于对照组,卵巢重显著高于对照组;血清中雌激素含量显著低于对照组（P〈0.05）,妊娠期间采食50 mg/kg大豆异黄酮饲料,其F1代雌鼠仅窝产仔数和45日龄时血清中雌激素含量受到影响;而雌鼠从断奶到怀孕期间饲喂含大豆异黄酮饲料的F1代在各项指标与对照组均差异无显著性。结论雌鼠妊娠期间饲喂含400 mg/kg大豆异黄酮的饲料会显著影响其雌性后代的初情期、生殖器官发育、血清雌激素含量等生殖生理性状,而在非妊娠期饲喂含大豆异黄酮饲料对F1代无显著影响。     

大豆异黄酮对老龄大鼠雌激素水平和子宫雌激素受体表达的影响

目的探讨大豆异黄酮（soy isoflavones,SIF）对老龄大鼠雌激素水平和雌激素受体表达的影响。方法将40只16月龄雌性SD大鼠随机分为高、中和低剂量大豆异黄酮3个实验组（H-SIF,M-SIF和L-SIF）和1个对照组,每天分别按1005、0和25 mg/（kg.bw）剂量的大豆异黄酮进行灌胃,对照组灌服生理盐水。42 d后称重,股动脉放血处死动物收集血清、摘取子宫称重并冷冻保存。采用放射免疫法测定血清中雌二醇（E2）、睾酮（T）、泌乳素（PRL）、促黄体生成素（LH）和促卵泡激素（FSH）的含量;RT-PCR检测子宫雌激素受体α（ERα）基因的表达。结果与对照组相比,3个实验组血清中E2和PRL都升高,LH和FSH都降低,其中高剂量组差异有显著性（P〈0.05）;子宫重量无明显差异;子宫ERα表达呈下降趋势,但无统计学意义。结论大豆异黄酮能调节老龄大鼠血清中的雌激素水平,且有剂量依赖性;大豆异黄酮对老年大鼠子宫重量和子宫ERα的表达无影响。     

大豆异黄酮改善母鼠抑郁样行为的作用及其雌激素受体β机制*

目的:观察大豆异黄酮改善母鼠抑郁样行为的作用及其与血清雌二醇(E₂)、多巴胺(DA)及脑区雌激素受体β(ERβ)关系。方法:将产后2 d的母鼠随机分为:对照组和长期分离模型组,对照组不给予任何刺激,长期分离模型组母鼠给予每天3 h分离建立产后抑郁母鼠模型,10 d后,将造模成功的母鼠再分为:模型组、低浓度组和高浓度组,每组10只,加上对照组,共4组。模型组、低浓度组和高浓度组分别灌胃蒸馏水、15 mg/kg·d^-1和30 mg/kg·d^-1大豆异黄酮10 d,之后观察强迫游泳和悬尾实验中挣扎的时间、频次和静止的时间、频次,取血检测血清E₂和DA浓度,取脑免疫组化检测杏仁内侧核(MeA)、终纹床核(BNST)和中视前区(mPOA)ERβ的表达。结果:与对照组比较,模型组和低浓度组小鼠在强迫游泳和悬尾实验中的运动时间和频次明显降低,血清中的DA、ERβ浓度明显降低(P＜0.05或P＜0.01),模型组、低浓度和高浓度的E₂均明显降低(P＜0.01);与模型组比较,低浓度组小鼠在强迫游泳和悬尾实验中运动时间、mPOA内ERβ表达显著升高(P＜0.05),高浓度组小鼠在强迫游泳和悬尾实验中运动时间和频次、血清DA浓度和ERβ表达均明显升高(P＜0.05或P＜0.01);与低浓度组比较,高浓度组在强迫游泳和悬尾实验中运动时间和频次、血清DA浓度和ERβ表达均明显升高(P＜0.05或 P＜0.01)。结论:大豆异黄酮可减少母鼠的抑郁样行为,尤其是较高浓度大豆异黄酮减少更为明显,而抑郁样行为的减少可能与大豆异黄酮使血清多巴胺和雌激素受体β水平升高有关。     

17β-雌二醇和跑台运动对去卵巢大鼠骨组织及子宫ERα蛋白表达影响的对比研究

目的：雌激素受体α（ERα）作为雌激素调节骨效应的主要受体在雌激素对骨量和骨代谢的调节中发挥重要的作用,为此本研究比较了17β-雌二醇（E2）和跑台运动对去卵巢大鼠骨组织和子宫ERα蛋白表达影响的异同。方法：将40只健康3月龄雌性SD大鼠,按体重分层后随机分为假手术、去卵巢、雌激素和运动四个组。手术1周后,雌激素组大鼠每周按体重颈部皮下注射三次17β-雌二醇,每次25μg／kg体重。运动组每周进行4次45min、速度18m／min、坡度5°的跑台训练。连续给药或运动处理14周后。采用放射免疫法和免疫组织化学法分别检测血清E2水平以及胫骨和子宫ERα蛋白表达的变化。结果：大鼠去卵巢后,子宫重量、子宫重量指数和血清E2水平显著下降,补充外源性17β-雌二醇后,三项指标均显著增加;但运动处理只能增加血清E2水平,对子宫重量和子宫重量指数均无显著影响。子宫EIh蛋白免疫组化结果显示：ERα在去卵巢组子宫内膜腔上皮、腺上皮及基质中的表达显著低于假手术组,而在雌激素组中的表达高于去卵巢组,运动组各部位ERα表达虽有所增加,但是增加的程度远低于雌激素组。胫骨近端ERα蛋白免疫组化结果显示：去卵巢后,胫骨近端骨骺端软骨细胞的细胞核内ERα表达减少,运动和雌激素干预后,胫骨近端ERα表达增加。结论：运动和雌激素处理均能刺激去卵巢大鼠子宫和骨组织ERα蛋白的表达,但运动处理无雌激素处理增加子宫重量的副作用。可见在绝经后骨质疏松的预防中,运动处理可能要优于雌激素处理。     

不同干预方法对去卵巢骨质疏松大鼠子宫GSK-3β蛋白表达的影响

目的观察全身垂直振动、跑台运动和金雀异黄酮对去卵巢骨质疏松大鼠子宫重量指数和组织形态学以及糖原合成激酶3β（GSK-3β）蛋白表达的影响。方法将72只3月龄雌性SD大鼠按体重分层后随机分为假手术组（12只）和去卵巢组（60只）。去卵巢10周时,将去卵巢组大鼠按体重分层后又随机分为去卵巢组、振动组、跑台组、金雀异黄酮组和雌激素组（每组8~10只）,并开始进行不同干预处理。干预处理8周时,于末次处理结束36~48h内,腹主动脉取血处死各组大鼠,用电子天平称量大鼠子宫的重量,用HE染色方法观察子宫形态学的变化,用Western blot方法检测子宫GSK-3β和P-GSK-3β蛋白表达的变化。结果与去卵巢组比较,雌激素组大鼠子宫重量指数显著增加,而振动组、跑台组、金雀异黄酮组大鼠子宫重量指数均无显著变化;与去卵巢组比较,雌激素组、跑台组和振动组大鼠子宫P-GSK-3β/GSK-3β蛋白的比值均显著增加,而金雀异黄酮组无显著变化。结论全身垂直振动和跑台运动均能刺激去卵巢骨质疏松大鼠子宫GSK-3β蛋白的磷酸化,而金雀异黄酮无此效应。     

不同疗法对去卵巢大鼠子宫ERα和ERRα蛋白表达的影响

目的:本研究旨在对比观察全身垂直振动、跑台运动、金雀异黄酮和氯化锂等不同干预疗法对去卵巢骨质疏松大鼠子宫雌激素受体α(ERα)和雌激素受体相关受体α(ERRα)蛋白表达的影响。方法:将80只3月龄雌性SD大鼠按体重分层后随机分为假手术组和去卵巢组。去卵巢10周时,将去卵巢组大鼠按体重分层后又随机分为去卵巢组、振动组、跑台组、金雀异黄酮组、氯化锂组和雌激素组,并开始进行不同的干预处理。干预处理8周时,腹主动脉取血处死各组大鼠,用放射免疫方法检测血清E_2水平,用Western blot检测子宫ERα和ERRα蛋白表达水平的变化。结果:大鼠去卵巢后,血清E_2水平显著下降,经雌激素处理后,血清E_2水平显著回升,但经其他几种方法处理后均无显著变化。Western blot结果显示,大鼠去卵巢后,子宫ERα蛋白表达水平显著增加,经雌激素、跑台运动、全身垂直振动和氯化锂处理后,子宫ERα蛋白表达水平显著下降,而经金雀异黄酮处理后,子宫ERα蛋白表达水平无显著变化。大鼠去卵巢后,子宫ERRα蛋白表达水平显著下降,经雌激素和金雀异黄酮干预后,子宫ERR-α表达水平显著增加,而经跑台运动、全身振动和氯化锂干预后,子宫ERR-α表达水平却显著下降。结论:跑台运动和全身垂直振动能抑制去卵巢骨质疏松大鼠子宫ERα和ERRα蛋白的表达,氯化锂能抑制ERα蛋白的表达,但促进ERRα蛋白的表达,金雀异黄酮能促进ERRα蛋白的表达,但对ERα蛋白的表达没有影响。     

自然发情与诱导发情小鼠子宫内膜中雌激素受体α表达的比较

目的从雌激素受体α(ERα)的角度探讨自然发情小鼠与诱导发情小鼠的子宫内膜上,雌激素受体α表达是否受内源雌激素的特异诱导而变化,两者之间是否存在差异。方法27只同日龄母鼠,根据处理方式的不同随机分为3个组:自然发情假孕组(对照组)、诱导发情处理假孕组和自然发情假孕第1天摘除卵巢组,3个组的小鼠在见栓后第4、6、8天分别取样后,采用免疫组织化学法观察小鼠子宫内膜中雌激素受体α的表达情况。结果免疫组化结果显示,3个处理组的小鼠子宫内膜上皮细胞核、胞质都有ERα存在,且主要表达在腺上皮;见栓第4、6、8天时,诱导发情处理组小鼠子宫内膜的ERα阳性率均显著高于自然发情组和自然发情第1天摘除卵巢组(P0.05);见栓第8天时,自然发情处理组小鼠子宫内膜中的ERα阳性率与自然发情第1天摘除卵巢组差异不显著(P0.05),但见栓第4、6天时两者阳性率差异显著,自然发情处理组小鼠子宫内膜中的ERα阳性率显著高于自然发情第1天摘除卵巢组(P0.05)。结论诱导发情处理的小鼠子宫内膜,其表面雌激素受体α表达显著高于自然发情小鼠,且两者都受其内源性雌激素的特异诱导而变化。     

不同干预疗法对去卵巢骨质疏松大鼠肱骨骨矿物质含量影响

目的:对比观察不同干预疗法对去卵巢骨质疏松大鼠肱骨骨矿物质含量的影响。方法:按体重将80只成年雌性SD大鼠分层后随机分为假手术组和去卵巢组。手术11周时,将去卵巢组大鼠按体重分层后又随机分为去卵巢组、跑台运动组、振动组、金雀异黄酮组、氯化锂组和雌激素组。跑台运动组每周进行4次45 min、速度18 m/min、跑道倾角5°的跑台训练;振动组每天进行2次15 min、频率90 HZ/min、7次/周的振动治疗;金雀异黄酮组每天按体重灌胃1次金雀异黄酮,剂量为1 mg/kg体重;氯化锂组每周按体重腹腔注射氯化锂3次,剂量为15 mg/kg;雌激素组每周按体重颈部皮下注射3次17β-雌二醇,剂量为25μg/kg。持续处理8周时,于末次处理结束36-48小时内,按解剖位置截取双肱骨,称量肱骨湿重、去脂肪干重以及煅烧后的灰重。结果:与假手术组比较,去卵巢组肱骨湿重/体重、去脂肪干重/体重和灰重/体重均显著下降;与去卵巢组比较,跑台运动组、振动组、金雀异黄酮组和雌激素组肱骨湿重/体重、去脂肪干重/体重、灰重/体重均显著增加,而氯化锂组虽有所升高,但差异无显著性。结论:除氯化锂处理外,其他几种处理均能减缓去卵巢骨质疏松大鼠肱骨骨量的丢失,对防治去卵巢骨质疏松大鼠的骨质疏松有一定的作用。     

葛根异黄酮对去卵巢大鼠骨质疏松症的影响

通过对3月龄Wister大鼠,手术切除双侧卵巢后7天,每天灌胃TIP40mg/kg和10mg/kg,并设去卵巢组(OVX)、假手术组(Sham)和尼尔雌醇阳性对照组(OVX-E2),在给药3个月时,测定大鼠股骨骨矿密度(BMD)、骨钙及血清钙水平等,研究葛根异黄酮(TIP)对由雌激素缺乏引起的骨质疏松症的防治作用。结果TIP40mg/kg的BMD比去卵巢组显著提高了18.1%;使胫骨和血清钙含量显著增加;使去卵巢大鼠的脾脏重量系数和胸腺重量系数明显恢复;并可明显控制大鼠的体重。葛根异黄酮可能具有雌激素样活性,并有改善骨质疏松症的生物学活性。     

槐角苷对雌性小鼠的抗生育作用研究

以ICR小鼠为研究对象,研究了槐角苷对雌性小鼠的抗生育作用。受孕小鼠按照0 mg/kg·day、150 mg/kg·day、300 mg/kg·day、600 mg/kg·day浓度的槐角苷进行灌胃处理,检测其胚胎着床数,SEM检视子宫内膜结构以及免疫组化研究子宫雌激素受体(ERα)和孕激素受体(PR)的表达水平。结果表明:经600 mg/kg·day槐角苷处理的小鼠胚胎平均着床数显著降低(P0.01);第5天SEM结果显示600 mg/kg·day的处理组小鼠子宫内胞饮突的形成受阻,子宫内膜容受性发生显著改变;第4天、第5天及第6天的免疫组化结果显示600 mg/kg·day的处理组小鼠子宫ERα表达水平显著降低(P0.05),PR表达水平显著升高(P0.01)。研究表明,槐角苷能够通过调节子宫内ERα与PR的表达、影响胞饮突的形成、降低子宫内膜容受性等多种途径的相互作用从而导致小鼠胚胎着床的失败,显示出了显著的抗生育活性。     

Dietary soy isoflavone-aglycone lowers food intake in female rats with and without ovariectomy

Objective: Estrogens downregulate eating behavior, and soy isoflavones are known to be estrogenic agents. We aimed to examine whether the estrogenic property of soy isoflavones can affect food intake and body weight. Methods and Procedures: Seven‐week‐old male, female, and ovariectomized (OVX) Sprague‐Dawley rats were given free access to a diet containing 100–300 mg total isoflavone/kg diet, or to a control diet, either with or without concurrent administration of estradiol by subcutaneous implantation. Results: Dietary soy isoflavone was shown to lower food intake in female rats, whether or not the animals had undergone ovariectomy. Administration of estradiol lowered the food intake in male rats and in OVX female rats. The decrease in weekly food intake in female rats led to a reduction in their weekly gain in body weight. Dietary soy isoflavone significantly increased the concentration of serum isoflavones, especially equol (a metabolite of daidzein), regardless of gender or ovariectomy. Dietary soy isoflavone did not affect either serum estradiol concentration or uterine and didymus weights, but estradiol administration improved the uterine atrophy in OVX rats, and decreased the didymus weight in male rats. Discussion: Soy isoflavone lowers the food intake in female rats, but not in the male animals. Contrary to the hypothesis currently in vogue, the reduction in food intake caused by soy isoflavone may not be a purely estrogenic effect. This follows from the finding that the effects of soy isoflavones on food intake and on the reproductive organs differ from the corresponding effects produced by estrogen.     

Effects of chronic exposure to soy meal containing diet or soy derived isoflavones supplement on semen production and reproductive system of male rabbits

Soy and derivative diets deliver large doses of isoflavones to human and animals throughout their lifespan, including gestation. Epidemiologic and experimental data suggest that the consumption of soybean containing foods may protect against cardiovascular disease and decrease breast, prostate and endometrial cancer risk. Based on animal and in vitro studies, however, concerns have been raised that consumption of isoflavones may cause potential adverse effects on the reproductive tract and behavior. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic consumption of a soy meal containing diet or soy isoflavones supplement on the morphology of reproductive organs, semen quality, age that males reached puberty, and sexual behavior of male rabbits. With this purpose, 16 female rabbits were randomly assigned to receive: (1) a soy- and alfalfa-free diet; (2) a soy- and alfalfa-free diet supplemented with 5mg/kg body wt./day of soy isoflavones; (3) a soy- and alfalfa-free diet supplemented with 20mg/kg body wt./day of soy isoflavones; (4) a diet containing 18% of soy meal, throughout the gestation and lactation. After weaning, male offspring received the same diet, which was given to the respective mother. The age that males reached puberty, semen characteristics and sexual behavior were evaluated in these animals. At 33 weeks of age, the reproductive organs were submitted to histological evaluation. Rabbits, which received large amounts of isoflavones (20mg/kg body wt./day) had a lesser food intake, body weight and semen volume. Spermatogenesis, morphology of male genital organs and sexual behavior did not differ significantly from the control group. We conclude that chronic dietary treatment with soy based diet or soy isoflavones have no adverse effects on the observed reproductive patterns of male rabbits.     

Comparison of the estrogenic potencies of standardized soy extracts by immature rat uterotrophic bioassay.

Soy phytoestrogens, isoflavones, are a primary class of plant-based estrogen alternatives being sold over the counter nowadays. Genistein, daidzein and glycitein are the major isoflavones found in soybeans, as aglycones and glycosides. Each isoflavone shows distinctive estrogenic activity and pharmacokinetics. Soy dry extracts, employed as pharmaceutical raw material for manufacturing isoflavone supplements, are standardized to contain 40% of total isoflavones, but the amount of each isoflavone is highly diverse. The influence of these compositional differences on the estrogenic potency of soy extracts was evaluated by uterotrophic bioassay. Five commercial samples of standardized soy dry extract, homogeneously suspended in arachis oil, were administered per os in serial doses (125-4150 mg/kg bw/day) to immature female rats for 3 days. Soy extract samples with considerable diversity in isoflavone composition revealed different estrogenic potencies. Our results indicate a need of standardization of the individual isoflavone content in soy extracts.     

Comparison of regulative functions between dietary soy isoflavones aglycone and glucoside on lipid metabolism in rats fed cholesterol

The effects of dietary soy isoflavones aglycone and glucoside on lipid metabolism were compared in male Sprague-Dawley rats (4 weeks old) given purified diets containing 0.3% cholesterol. The rats were fed a diet supplemented with either isoflavone aglycone-rich powder (IF-A group) or isoflavone glucoside-rich powder (IF-G group) or isoflavone-free diet (control group) for 40 days. The additional level of isoflavone aglycone moiety in the diet was prepared to the same level (approximately 0.096 g/100 g: approximately 0.1% in diet). The activity of hepatic cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase tended to be slightly higher in the rats fed isoflavones than in those fed the isoflavone-free diet. On the other hand, the activity of hepatic Delta6 desaturase in the IF-A group was lower than that of the control group. Reflecting this effect, the Delta6 desaturation indices [(20:3n-6+20:4n-6)/18:2n-6] in liver phospholipids of the IF-A group were lower than those in the control group. Liver and serum total cholesterol levels and liver TG level were also reduced by consumption of isoflavone aglycone. Moreover, serum TG level was lowered by consumption of both isoflavones aglycone and glucoside. The level of serum total isoflavones in the IF-A group was significantly higher than that in the IF-G group. Therefore, we speculate that the absorption speed of isoflavone aglycones might be faster than that of isoflavone glucosides in rats. This study suggests that dietary soy isoflavones, particularly their aglycone form, may exert a beneficial effect on lipid metabolism in rats fed cholesterol.     

Effects of soy protein and isoflavone on hepatic fatty acid synthesis and oxidation and mRNA expression of uncoupling proteins and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma in adipose tissues of rats

Soy protein rich in isoflavones profoundly affects lipid metabolism in experimental animals. To distinguish the roles of the protein and isoflavone components of a soy protein preparation in regulating lipid metabolism, we compared the effects of diets containing methanol-washed soy protein low in isoflavone supplemented with a 0-, 0.5- and 4-g/kg isoflavone preparation on hepatic fatty acid metabolism and adipose tissue gene expression in rats. Diets containing soy protein irrespective of the isoflavone levels decreased the activities and mRNA expression of enzymes involved in hepatic fatty acid synthesis to similar levels. Methanol-washed soy protein compared to casein increased the mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha, and supplementing the soy protein diet with isoflavone further increased this parameter dose-dependently. However, methanol-washed soy protein compared to casein was totally ineffective in altering the activities and mRNA levels of enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation. Supplementation of soy protein diets with isoflavone slightly increased these parameters. The mRNA level of uncoupling protein (UCP) 1 in brown adipose tissue was significantly increased and mRNA levels of UCP2 and 3, and PPARgamma2 tended to be higher in rats fed methanol-washed soy protein not supplemented with isoflavone than in the animals fed casein. Adding isoflavone to the soy protein diets dose-dependently increased these parameters. These results suggested that the protein rather than isoflavone component is primarily responsible for the physiological activity of soy protein rich in isoflavones in reducing hepatic lipogenesis. However, isoflavones may have a role in regulating heptic fatty acid oxidation and adipose tissue gene expression.     

Effects of genistein or soy milk during late gestation and lactation on adult uterine organization in the rat

In utero and lactational exposure to estrogenic agents has been shown to influence morphological and functional development of reproductive tissues. Thus, consumption of dietary phytoestrogens, such as isoflavones, during pregnancy and lactation could influence important periods of development, when the fetus and neonate are more sensitive to estrogen exposure. In this study, reproductive outcomes after developmental exposure to isoflavones were examined in Long-Evans rats maternally exposed to isoflavones via a commercial soy beverage or as the isolated isoflavone, genistein. Most reproductive endpoints examined at birth, weaning, and 2 months of age were not significantly modified in pups of either sex after lactational exposure to soy milk (provided to the dams in place of drinking water) from birth until weaning. However, soy milk exposure induced a significant increase in progesterone receptor (PR) in the uterine glandular epithelium of the 2-month-old pups. In pregnant dams treated with genistein (GEN; 15 mg/kg body weight) by gavage, from Gestational Day 14 through weaning, PR expression in the uterine glandular epithelium from 2-month-old GEN-treated females (postexposure) was also significantly increased. Diethylstilbesterol (DES) also stimulated uterine PR expression only in the glandular but not luminal epithelial cells. However, unlike DES, in utero/lactational exposure to GEN did not increase expression of the proliferation marker, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), in the luminal epithelial cells of the 2-month-old rat uteri. These experiments demonstrate that developmental exposure to dietary isoflavones, at levels comparable to the ranges of human exposure, modify expression of the estrogen-regulated PR in the uterus of sexually mature rats weeks after exposure ended. Since the PR is essential for regulating key female reproductive processes, such as uterine proliferation, implantation, and maintenance of pregnancy, its increased expression suggests that soy phytoestrogen exposure during reproductive development may have long-term reproductive health consequences.     

Altered testicular microsomal steroidogenic enzyme activities in rats with lifetime exposure to soy isoflavones

Androgen production in the testis is carried out by the Leydig cells, which convert cholesterol into androgens. Previously, isoflavones have been shown to affect serum androgen levels and steroidogenic enzyme activities. In this study, the effects of lifelong exposure to dietary soy isoflavones on testicular microsomal steroidogenic enzyme activities were examined in the rat. F1 male rats were obtained from a multi-generational study where the parental generation was fed diets containing alcohol-washed soy protein supplemented with increasing amounts of Novasoy, a commercially available isoflavone supplement. A control group was maintained on a soy-free casein protein-based diet (AIN93G). The diets were designed to approximate human consumption levels and ranged from 0 to 1046.6 mg isoflavones/kg pelleted feed, encompassing exposures representative of North American and Asian diets as well as infant fed soy-based formula. Activities of testicular 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), P450c17 (CYP17), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) were assayed on post natal day (PND) 28, 70, 120, 240 and 360 while 5-reducatase was assayed on PND 28. At PND 28, 3β-HSD activity was elevated by approximately 50% in rats receiving 1046.6 mg total isoflavones/kg feed compared to those on the casein only diet. A similar increase in activity was observed for CYP17 in rats receiving 235.6 mg total isoflavones/kg feed, a level representative of infant exposure through formula, compared to those receiving 0 mg isoflavones from the casein diet. These results demonstrate that rats fed a mixture of dietary soy isoflavones showed significantly altered enzyme activity profiles during development at PND 28 as a result of early exposure to isoflavones at levels obtainable by humans.