Postweaning Consumption of Soy isoflavones Induced Alterations on Some Reproductive Parameters of Prepubertal and Postpubertal Male Wistar Rats
Background: Soy contains phytoestrogens which are potent endocrine disruptors. Soy mainly contains phytoestrogens called isoflavones predominantly daizein and genistein. Main body: The present study determined the effects of isoflavones consumed post-weaning on prepubertal and postpubertal Leydig and Sertoli cell numbers, spermatozoa parameters and body weight to paired testicular weight ratio of Wistar rats. In this study, three diets were formulated containing different amounts of isoflavones. The diets were formulated by adding to the base diet different quantities of novasoy which is an isoflavone concentrate. The formulated diets contained 74.5, 235.6 and 1046.6 mg total isoflavones/kg pelleted diet, representing the isoflavones content less, equivalent or greater than that found in soy infant formula respectively. The results obtained showed that; administration of all doses of isoflavones significantly (p