Effect of a single treatment (imprinting) with genistein or combined treatment with genistein plus benzpyrene on the binding capacity of glucocorticoid and estrogen receptors of adult rats

Hormonal imprinting takes place perinatally at the first encounter between the hormone and its target receptor. This is needed for the normal finishment of the maturation of the receptor-signal transduction system. In excess of foreign molecules, which can also bind to the receptor., faulty imprinting develops with life-long consequences. Genistein, a soybean phytosteroid (isoflavone), has estrogen-like effects and can be bound by steroid receptors. In the present experiments, single neonatal treatment (imprinting) with 20 mug of genistein, or combined treatment with 20 mug of genistein + 20 mug of benzpyrene was done and liver and thymus glucocorticoid receptors of adult male and female rats and uterine estrogen receptors were studied. There was no difference in the binding capacity of uterine estrogen receptors. Genistein treatment alone caused a significant reduction of liver glucocorticoid receptor density in males; however, there were no other significant alterations. After combined genistein + benzpyrene treatment, more than half of the thymus and liver glucocorticoid receptor values significantly changed. The results call attention to the imprinting-modifying effect of a second (environmental) imprinter.