Lack of modifying effects of genistein on disruption of the reproductive system by perinatal dietary exposure to ethinylestradiol in rats

We previously found that effects of perinatal dietary exposure to ethinylestradiol (EE) on the rat reproductive system differ depending on the diet used, with a more pronounced estrogenic impact with a regular diet that includes soy-derived proteins than with a soy-free (SF) diet. The present study was performed to examine whether genistein (GEN), a soy-derived major phytoestrogen, acts synergistically with EE. Maternal rats were fed SF diet without chemical (control) or containing 0.5-ppm EE, 0.5-ppm EE + 100-ppm GEN, 0.5-ppm EE + 1250-ppm GEN, or 1250-ppm GEN, from gestational day 15 to postnatal day (PND) 11. EE reduced serum testosterone in males at PND 3, and affected the onset of puberty of both sexes and estrous cyclicity and reproductive system in females, irrespective of co-administration of GEN. GEN alone also affected estrous cyclicity and the reproductive system in females. However, no combination effects of GEN with EE were evident, suggesting no synergism between the two.