INTRODUCTION AND AIM Daidzein application may represent an effective and less harmful alternative to indicated, classical estrogenization of ageing men. The aim of this study was to perform structural and hormonal analysis of the adrenal cortex, after estradiol or daidzein supplementation in a rat model of the andropause. MATERIAL AND METHODS Middle-aged Wistar rats were divided into sham operated (SO; n = 8), orchidectomized (Orx; n = 8), estradiol treated orchidectomized (Orx + E; n = 8) and daidzein treated orchidectomized (Orx + D; n = 8) groups. Estradiol (0.625 mg/kg b.m./day) or daidzein (30 mg/kg b.m./day) were administered subcutaneously for three weeks, while the SO and Orx groups received the vehicle alone. Set objectives were achieved using stereology, histochemistry/immunohistochemistry, immunoassays and ultrastructural analysis. RESULTS Both estradiol and daidzein treatment significantly increased volumes of the zona glomerulosa cell and nuclei, but decreased circulating aldosterone levels. Estradiol markedly increased volumes of the zona fasciculata cell and nuclei in parallel with significant decrease of the adrenal tissue level of corticosterone, while daidzein significantly decreased both the adrenal and circulating levels of corticosterone. Serum DHEA level and volumes of the zona reticularis cell and nuclei significantly increased upon estradiol treatment, whereas daidzein even stronger increased the circulating level of DHEA. Shunting of the corticosteroidogenesis pathways towards adrenal androgens production, after the treatments, corresponded to the ultrastructural findings and zonal capillary network rearrangements. CONCLUSIONS Given the coherence of its effects and relative safety, daidzein could be the remedy of choice for the treatment of ageing-caused androgen deprivation and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperfunction/related metabolic issues in males.

中文翻译：

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在雄性更年期大鼠模型中应用雌二醇或大豆苷元后的肾上腺皮质：结构和激素研究。

引言和目的黄豆苷元的应用可能是一种有效且危害较小的替代方法，可替代衰老男性的经典雌激素治疗方法。本研究的目的是在雄性更年期大鼠模型中补充雌二醇或大豆苷元后，对肾上腺皮质进行结构和激素分析。材料与方法将Wistar中年大鼠分为假手术（SO; n = 8），经去睾丸切除（Orx; n = 8），经雌二醇处理的经去睾丸切除（Orx + E; n = 8）和黄豆苷元处理的经睾丸切除（Orx + D）。 ; n = 8）组。皮下注射雌二醇（0.625 mg / kg bm /天）或黄豆苷元（30 mg / kg bm /天），持续三周，而SO和Orx组仅接受媒介物。使用立体学，组织化学/免疫组织化学，免疫分析和超微结构分析实现了既定目标。结果雌二醇和黄豆苷元处理均显着增加了肾小球透明带细胞和细胞核的体积，但降低了循环醛固酮水平。雌二醇显着增加筋膜带细胞和核的体积，同时皮质酮的肾上腺组织水平显着降低，而大豆苷元则显着降低皮质酮的肾上腺和循环水平。雌二醇处理后，血清DHEA水平以及网状带状细胞和核的体积显着增加，而大豆苷元甚至更强地增加了DHEA的循环水平。处理后，皮质类固醇生成途径向肾上腺雄激素产生的分流对应于超微结构发现和带状毛细血管网重排。