Stereological investigations of the effects of soybean (glycine max L.) on the reproductive system of female rat

In the present study the effects on the female genital system of soybean which can be found in various forms not only in animal nutrition but also human food have been investigated. For this purpose, the extracts of soya plant which were prepared with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol were given to rats orally at 100 and 200 mg/kg doses for 1 month. At the end of the experimental period, the rats which were at the stage of diestrus determined by monitoring the menstrual cycle with vaginal smear method, were euthanized. The genital system organs taken from rats were analyzed by using stereological methods. Follicule was counted with the optical dissector metod in the ovaryum as Stereological and the weights of ovaries and uterus were also evaluated. At the end of the evaluations it was determined that some changes occured in the genital system of the rats which were given at 200 mg/kg dose of soy extract, especially the ethanol extract. In the test groups vaginal aperture increased and uterine appeared like hyperemia while significant weight increase did not occur. In addition, the weight of relative ovarium and uterus weight increased and coarsening of epithelial cells was observed. It was identified that diameter of seconder follicule reduced while the number of seconder follicule increased. The amount of isoflavone content was determined by using high pressure liquid chromatography (HLPC) technique on the extract which was determined to have the highest isoflavone content by thin layer chromatography. In the light of the findings of the present study, phytoestrogens in the soya plant were found to have effects on the female genital system and this effect may change according to dose.