coumestrol and Disease-Models--Animal

Diabetes-induced oxidative stress is vital in initiating neuronal damage in the diabetic retina, leading to diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study investigates the possible effects of coumestrol (CMS) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DR. First, we established a rat model of DR by STZ injection and a cell model involving high-glucose (HG) exposure of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (hRMECs). We characterized the expression patterns of oxidative stress indicators, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and pro-apoptotic proteins in hRMECs. Polymerase chain reaction showed sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) to be poorly expressed in the retinal tissues of STZ-treated rats and HG-exposed hRMECs, but its expression was upregulated upon treatment with CMS treatment. Furthermore, CMS treatment attenuated the STZ-induced pathologies such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell apoptosis. Consistent with the

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Coumestrol; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Diabetic Retinopathy; Disease Models, Animal; Endothelial Cells; Glucose; Humans; Inflammation; Oxidative Stress; Phytoestrogens; Rats; Retina; Retinal Vessels; Sirtuin 1

Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is a frequent feature of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), and it may alter upper airway muscle endurance. We have previously reported the positive effects of estrogen on genioglossus fatigue resistance in rats. Our present study was designed to evaluate the effects of two phytoestrogens - genistein and coumestrol - on genioglossus contractile function and estrogen receptor (ER) expression in female rats exposed to CIH. Eight-wk-old female rats were ovariectomized and exposed to CIH for 5 wk. Genistein and coumestrol, respectively, were administered by intraperitoneal injection, at a dose of 2.5 mg kg(-1) d(-1), during the last 4 d of exposure to CIH. The contractile properties of the genioglossus were measured. Real-time RT-PCR and western blotting were performed to determine the expression of ERs in the genioglossus. Phytoestrogens were found to significantly increase genioglossus fatigue resistance, the effect of genistein being more powerful than that of coumestrol. However, higher levels of ER mRNA and protein were detected in the coumestrol group than in the genistein group. We conclude that phytoestrogens, especially genistein, could improve the endurance of the genioglossus muscle in ovariectomized rats exposed to CIH, and this effect is, in part, not related to its estrogenic action.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Chronic Disease; Coumestrol; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Genistein; Hypoxia; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Skeletal; Phytoestrogens; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Estrogen; RNA, Messenger; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Tongue

There is a great deal of controversy surrounding the issue of hormone replacement therapy after transplantation. The question whether or not this therapy has effects in cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), the Achilles heel of cardiac transplantation or other unique aspects of allograft function is still unknown.. We investigated the long-term effect of 17beta-estradiol as well as phytoestrogen Coumestrol, a synthetically produced phytoestrogen, on the development of CAV and the degree of fibrosis in an ovariectomized female heterotopic chronic allograft model (LEW-F344).. We found that, 150 days after transplantation, no significant effect of estrogen application on intimal thickening of coronary arteries was observed. 17beta-estradiol and phytoestrogen Coumestrol did significantly reduce the perivascular immune reaction. However, the immune effect had no consequence on the intensity of CAV. Although neither 17beta-estradiol nor phytoestrogen Coumestrol revealed a positive effect on CAV, the group of animals treated with 17beta-estradiol showed the highest decline in heart function and the most distinct fibrosis.. 17beta-estradiol does not affect CAV positively, but worsens cardiac allograft function and leads to increased fibrosis. This is the first study showing a negative effect of 17-beta-estradiol after heart transplantation in the long term.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Coumestrol; Disease Models, Animal; Estradiol; Female; Heart Transplantation; Phytoestrogens; Postoperative Complications; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Rats, Inbred Lew; T-Lymphocytes; Transplantation, Homologous; Transplantation, Isogeneic; Uterus; Weight Gain

Epidemiological studies suggest that post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) reduces colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence. Phytoestrogens, including the soy isoflavone genistein and coumestrol, are used by many women as alternatives to HRT. Previous studies showed that ovariectomy induced a 77% increase in intestinal adenoma number in the C57BL/6J-Min/+ (Min/+) mouse, an animal model of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC)-associated CRC. Replacement of estradiol (E(2)) in ovariectomized Min/+ mice reduced tumor number to baseline and up-regulated the expression of estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta). We hypothesized that the phytoestrogens genistein and coumestrol would inhibit intestinal tumorigenesis in ovariectomized Min/+ mice. Min/+ and Apc(+/+) (WT) mice were ovariectomized and assigned to either a control diet or treatment with E(2), genistein or coumestrol. Treatment of ovariectomized Min/+ (Min/+ OX) mice with genistein resulted in a non-significant reduction in tumor number. Min/+ OX mice treated with coumestrol had significantly fewer tumors than untreated Min/+ OX controls and the same number of tumors as non-ovariectomized Min/+ mice. Bromodeoxyuridine migration assays also demonstrated that treatment with E(2) or coumestrol improved enterocyte migration rate. Immunoprecipitation and immunohistochemistry analyses showed that impaired association of the adherens junction proteins E-cadherin and beta-catenin in Min/+ mice was improved by treatment with either E(2) or coumestrol. Immunoblot analyses also showed that expression of ERbeta was elevated in enterocytes of Min/+ OX mice treated with E(2) or coumestrol as compared with those of untreated Min/+ OX mice. In conclusion, both coumestrol and E(2) prevent intestinal tumorigenesis and ameliorate enterocyte migration and intercellular adhesion in the Apc(Min/+) mouse model of CRC.

Topics: Animals; Cell Movement; Colorectal Neoplasms; Coumestrol; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Genes, APC; Genistein; Immunohistochemistry; Immunoprecipitation; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestines; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Ovariectomy; Phytoestrogens; Receptors, Estrogen

Coumestrol is a naturally occurring plant estrogen. As estrogen influences cellular and humoral immunity, and has known effects on murine models of lupus, we investigated the effect of coumestrol on disease expression in the NZB/W F1 mouse. Female NZB/W F1 mice were fed a "standard" rodent diet including soy proteins, a non-soy diet, or a non-soy diet with 0.01% coumestrol. Outcome measures included survival, autoantibody expression, immunoglobulin levels, proteinuria, renal histology and B cell immunohistochemistry, and renal mRNA expression. At 24 weeks, the treatment group had decreased prevalence of autoantibodies detected by immunofluorescence and less splenomegaly. At 39 weeks, the prevalence of autoantibodies was similar but the treatment group had less proteinuria. Overall, there was little effect of treatment on renal mRNA levels as assessed by gene array analysis, but functional ontology mapping revealed that genes encoding proteins involved in the immune response were most often affected. These results suggest that treatment with coumestrol may ameliorate some aspects of disease progression in this model of systemic autoimmunity.

Topics: Animals; Antibody Formation; Autoantibodies; Autoimmunity; Chromatin; Coumestrol; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Gene Expression; Immunoglobulins; Kidney; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Mice; Mice, Inbred NZB; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Phytoestrogens; RNA, Messenger

Previously, a specific dietary supplement, selected vegetables (SV), was found to be associated with prolonged survival of stage III and IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. In this study, several anticancer components in SV were measured; the anticancer activity of SV was assessed using a lung tumor model, line 1 in BALB/c mice. SV was also used in conjunction with conventional therapies by stage IIIB and IV NSCLC patients whose survival and clinical responses were evaluated. A daily portion (283 g) of SV was found to contain 63 mg of inositol hexaphosphate, 4.4 mg of daidzein, 2.6 mg of genistein, and 16 mg of coumestrol. Mouse food containing 5% SV (wt/wt) was associated with a 53-74% inhibition of tumor growth rate. Fourteen of the 18 patients who ingested SV daily for 2-46 months were included in the analyses; none showed evidence of toxicity. The first lead case remained tumor free for > 133 months; the second case showed complete regression of multiple brain lesions after using SV and radiotherapy. The median survival time of the remaining 12 patients was 33.5 months, and one-year survival was > 70%. The median survival time of the 16 "intent-to-treat" patients (including ineligible patients) was 20 months, and one-year survival was 55%. The Karnofsky performance status of eligible patients was 55 +/- 13 at entry but improved to 92 +/- 9 after use of SV for five months or longer (p < 0.01). Five patients had stable lesions for 30, 30, 20, 12, and 2 months; two of them, whose primary tumor was resected, used SV alone and demonstrated an objective response of their metastatic tumors. In addition to the two lead cases, eight patients had no new metastases after using SV. Three patients had complete regression of brain metastases after using radiotherapy and SV. In this study, daily ingestion of SV was associated with objective responses, prolonged survival, and attenuation of the normal pattern of progression of stage IIIB and IV NSCLC. A large randomized phase III clinical trial is needed to confirm the results observed in this pilot study.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Coumestrol; Dietary Supplements; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Genistein; Humans; Isoflavones; Karnofsky Performance Status; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Nutritive Value; Phytic Acid; Pilot Projects; Survival Analysis; Time Factors; Vegetables

The intake, as well as serum and urinary concentrations, of phytoestrogens is high in countries where incidence of prostate cancer is low, suggesting a chemopreventive role for phytoestrogens. Their significance could be explained by the ability to antagonize the action of more potent endogenous estrogens in initiation or promotion of tumor formation. We have studied estrogenicity and antiestrogenicity of dietary soy and two phytoestrogens, coumestrol and daidzein, in our neoDES mouse model for the study or prostatic neoplasia. Soy was chosen because it is rich in phytoestrogens, is widely used in Oriental diets, and has antiestrogenic and anticarcinogenic properties in the neoDES mouse when given from fertilization onward. In short-term tests with adult animals, no evidence for estrogenicity or antiestrogenicity (capability to antagonize the action of 17 beta-estradiol) of soy was found when development of epithelial metaplasia and expression of c-fos protooncogene in prostate were used as end points of estrogen action. Estrogenic activity of coumestrol and daidzein on c-fos expression was subtle. Coumestrol, either given alone or in combination with 17 beta-estradiol, had no effect on development of epithelial metaplasia. These marginal or missing effects in adult males could be interpreted by assuming that the neonatal period is more critical for estrogenic or antiestrogenic action of soy and phytoestrogens. Once initiated, estrogen-related lesions would develop spontaneously. Alternatively, the chemopreventive action of soy is not due to antiestrogenicity of soy-derived phytoestrogens.

Topics: Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Coumestrol; Diet; Diethylstilbestrol; Disease Models, Animal; Estradiol; Estrogens; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; Glycine max; Isoflavones; Male; Metaplasia; Mice; Plant Growth Regulators; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; Receptors, Estrogen

We have developed a simple model of osteopenia in rats which is induced by confinement without requiring surgical operation. Each rat was maintained for 8 weeks in a compartment of a commercially-available wire netting cage subdivided into 10 areas (compartment size, 9 x 16 x 14 cm) to restrict exercise. The femora isolated from the confined rats showed significant decreases in mineral (calcium and phosphorus) content, compared with the level in normal rats, 2 weeks after the start of their confinement. Confined rats showed significantly lower values for the physical properties of bones such as breaking energy and breaking force and also density composed with normal rats 4 weeks after the start of confinement. KCA-098 (1 mg/kg), a new benzofuroquinoline derivative that inhibits bone resorption and at the same time stimulates bone mineralization in organ culture, protected against these decreases when given orally for 8 weeks. All these results show that confinement of rats offers a simple and useful animal model of osteopenia.

Topics: Animals; Bone Diseases, Metabolic; Bone Resorption; Coumestrol; Disease Models, Animal; Immobilization; Male; Rats; Rats, Wistar