Grantee Research Project Results

Developmental Effects of Dietary Soy Phytoestrogens

EPA Grant Number: R825721
Title: Developmental Effects of Dietary Soy Phytoestrogens
Investigators: Hughes, Claude L. , Shively, Carol , Bullock, Bill , Lewis, Carole
Current Investigators: Hughes, Claude L. , Tyrey, Lee , Davis, Vickie
Institution: Duke University , Davidson College
Current Institution: Duke University Medical Center
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: November 1, 1996 through October 30, 1999
Project Amount: $574,747
RFA: Endocrine Disruptors (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Endocrine Disruptors , Human Health , Safer Chemicals

Description:

The purpose of the project is to conduct a series of experiments to determine whether developmental exposure to dietary phytochemicals that have estrogenic activity will affect central nervous system and reproductive system functions later in life. The basic design is, in addition to a control group, dietary exposure of pregnant rats to three different levels of soy phytoestrogens or the reference estrogen diethylstilbestrol during late preganancy, the neonatal interval, lactation and ending with weaning. The groups of exposed progeny, particularly the females, will be studied. Outcomes will include adolescent behavior, age of onset of puberty, initial ovarian cyclicity, age-associated cessation of ovarian cyclicity, ovarian follicle numbers and brain histomorphometry/histochemistry to assess sexually dimorphic endpoints. These observations will provide substantial insight regarding the effects or lack of effect of these naturally-occuring dietary estrogens on several subtle but important developmental outcomes.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 2 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

endocrine disruption, rodent, reproduction, development, female., Health, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Health Risk Assessment, Biology, genetic susceptability, Environmental Chemistry, Endocrine Disruptors - Human Health, Children's Health, endocrine disruptors, Endocrine Disruptors - Environmental Exposure & Risk, dietary exposure, environmental hazard exposures, health risks, sensitive populations, growth and development, pregnancy, phytochemicals, central nervous system, epidemiology, females, exposure studies, developmental processes, female, reproductive processes, children, endocrine disruption, exposure, gender, biological effects, brain chemistry, developmental toxicants, environmentally caused disease, toxics, adolescence, adverse outcomes, dietary soy phytoestrogens, animal models, childhood development, rodent

Relevant Websites:

http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/~stratsoy/soyhealth/welcome.html http://www.soyfoods.com/symposium/PosterAbstracts.html

Progress and Final Reports:

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.