Phytoestrogen Genistein On The Rat Central Nervous Discharge Activities

Objective: Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring and have estrogen-like effects. Genistein (GST) is classified as one of the isoflavones. A large body of evidence indicates that phytoestrogens, including GST, have cardiovascular protection and neuroprotective effect. Our previous studies have shown that GST decreased the vascular tone in the femoral vascular beds, and its mechanism is involved with NO release; GST reduced infarct size and apoptosis of myocytes in ischemia/reperfusion rabbit heart. Phytoestrogens have been linked to protecting against age-related diseases and against neurotoxicity induced by beta-amyloid peptide; GST can protect hippocampal neurons from neuroinjury which was attributed to the lack of estrogen, the inhibition of Ca²⁺ influx and glutamate release from hippocampal synaptosomes through NO pathway may be involved; GST can upregulate NO in fundus forebrain neurons. However, little is known about the effects of GST on the electrical activity of neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). In physiological condition, the effect of GST on the electrical activity of neurons of the rat hippocampus has not been reported. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the effect of GST on the electrical activity of neurons of the rat...