Feeding daidzein to late pregnant sows influences the estrogen receptor beta and type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor mRNA expression in newborn piglets

M. Q. Ren, G. Kuhn, J. Wegner, G. Nürnberg, J. Chen, K. Ender

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to determine the tissue-specific expression of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ), and the effects of a daidzein supplement to the diet of pregnant sows on the expression of ERβ, and type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) genes in newborn piglets by using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Eight sows received a dietary supplement of daidzein at a dosage of 8 mg per kg feed from day 85 of gestation, and six sows were used as controls. After parturition, 2 male neonatal piglets were selected from each litter for sampling. ERβ mRNA was detected in intestine, lung, thymus, kidney, pituitary and hypothalamus tissues, but not in heart, adrenal, skeletal muscle, liver or placental tissues. Daidzein treatment significantly increased the birth weight of male piglets and markedly reduced the level of ERβ mRNA in the hypothalamus, but not in the pituitary. An up-regulation of IGF-1R gene transcription was observed in skeletal muscles of newborn piglets. In addition, the IGF-1R mRNA was found to be most abundant in pituitary and hypothalamus, followed by skeletal muscle, thymus, and liver tissues in decreasing order. Our results demonstrate that (1) ERβ is expressed in a tissue-specific manner in newborn piglets, (2) daidzein down-regulates ERβ gene expression in the hypothalamus, possibly indicating central effects of daidzein, and (3) daidzein influences fetal growth associated with higher IGF-IR gene expression in skeletal muscle.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)129-135
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Endocrinology
Volume170
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Endocrinology

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