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Possible role of mitochondrial dysfunction in central neurodegeneration of ovariectomized rats
Author(s) -
Shi Chun,
Xu Xiao Wu,
Forster E. Lucy,
Tang Li Feng,
Ge ZhenYing,
Yew David T.,
Xu Jie
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
cell biochemistry and function
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1099-0844
pISSN - 0263-6484
DOI - 10.1002/cbf.1423
Subject(s) - ovariectomized rat , neurodegeneration , endocrinology , hippocampal formation , medicine , genistein , hippocampus , endogeny , estrogen , mitochondrion , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , disease
In the present study, ovariectomized Sparague‐Dawley rats were used to mimic the pathological changes of post‐menopausal females with genistein and estradiol benzoate (EB) as substitutes for endogenous estradiol. Measurements of hippocampal ATP content, mitochondrial ATP content and the rate of mitochondrial ATP synthesis in the hippocampus indicated that after ovariectomy, brain energy metabolism of the rats presented a transient change in hippocampal ATP content which was significant from the 6th to the 8th day after ovariectomy. The change on the 6th day was the most noteworthy. Mitochondrial ATP content and the rate of mitochondrial ATP synthesis of the hippocampus were also lowered. However, after using EB or genistein, the three indicators returned to normal. It is suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction may play a key role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) of the post‐menopausal female, and may serve as the target for endogenous estrogen and exogenous phytoestrogen. In addition, genistein, which possesses the properties of estrogen but not its side effects such as carcinogenicity, could reverse the bioenergetic defects of ovariectomized rats and perhaps be used as a substitute for estradiol to prevent or treat central neurodegeneration in post‐menopausal women. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.