Abstract

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a pivotal role in ovary disease by degrading multiple elements of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Therefore, the inhibition of MMPs has been suggested to be a promising therapeutic strategy for premature ovarian failure(POF). Genistein, the primary isoflavone in legumes, has a well known weak estrogenic effect by binding to estrogen receptors, and widely used in the treatment of POF;however, MMPs changes after using genistein (Gen) was unclear. The aim of our study was to evaluate changes from MMP-2 of POF rats induced by cisplatin intraperitoneal injection after using different dose of GEN treatment by western-blot and immunohistochemistry technology. The results demonstrated that MMP was significantly down-regulated in middle dose GEN group and high dose of GEN group in comparison to the cisplatin group on protein level (P < 0.05), and middle dose GEN group, high dose of GEN group and control group had no significant difference on mRNA level (P < 0.05). The present study provides improvement in understanding the molecular pathogenic mechanism of POF and development of Gen as effective treatment drugs.

Key words: Genistein, premature ovarian failure, MMP-2, cisplatin, western-blot, immunohistochemistry.