Armaghane Danesh Bimonthly Journal (Feb 2014)
Effect of soy milk on thickness of cerebral cortex and hippocampus in newborn ovariectomized rats
Abstract
Abstract Background & aim: Soy contains the largest concentration of isoflavones, they are structurally similar to estradiol and mimic its effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of soy milk on thickness of cerebral cortex and hippocampus in newborn ovariectomized rats. Methods: The present experimental study was conducted on 30 newborn female rats. In day 7, 20 rats were randomly chosen and ovariectomy surgery was performed on them. Then the rats were divided to six groups of five rats each: control group, ovariectomized rats (no treatment), sham group and 3 groups of ovareictomaized rats treated by soy milk in doses 0.75, 1.5 and 3 ml/kg/day. In day 60, the brains of all rats were dissected and histological studies for determination of thickness of cerebral cortex and hippocampus were done. The collected data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey tests. Results: Our results indicated that low estradiol following ovariectomy decreased thickness of cerebral cortex and hippocampal regions and soy milk in high dose increase the levels of estradiol, thickness of cerebral cortex and thickness of hippocampal regions. Conclusion: soy milk can compensate the effect of ovariectomy on thickness of cerebral cortex and hippocampal regions. Key words: Soy Milk, Hippocampus, Cerebral Cortex
