 ResearchAndrogen receptor expression in the rat prostate is down-regulated by dietary phytoestrogensTrent D Lund1 , Daniel J Munson1 , Herman Adlercreutz2 , Robert J Handa1 and Edwin D Lephart3  1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA 2Institute for Preventive Medicine, Nutrition, and Cancer Folkhälsan Research Center, and Division of Clinical Chemistry, Biomedicum, University of Helsinki, Finland 3The Neuroscience Center and Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA author email corresponding author email
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2004,
2:5doi:10.1186/1477-7827-2-5
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16 January 2004 |
Abstract
Background
It is well established that the growth of the prostate gland is a hormone-dependent phenomenon involving both androgenic and estrogenic control. Proliferation of prostate cells is, at least in part, under control of estrogen receptor beta (ER-beta). Phytoestrogens bind ER-beta with high affinity and therefore may have antiproliferative effects in the prostate.
Methods
The prostates of male Long-Evans rats fed a diet high in phytoestrogens (Phyto-600) or very low levels of phytoestrogens (Phyto-free) were analyzed to determine the impact of dietary phytoestrogens on prostate weight and androgen receptor (AR) expression in the prostate.
Results
Dietary phytoestrogens significantly decreased post-pubertal prostate weight gain in Phyto-600 vs Phyto-free fed males. Additionally, dietary phytoestrogens (Phyto-600) decreased AR expression in the prostate as determined by in situ hybridization.
Conclusions
Soy phytoestrogens, present in diet, alter prostate growth presumably by binding ER-beta and subsequently reducing AR expression within the prostate. |