Genistein inhibits the proliferation of anterior pituitary cells of rats. - GreenMedInfo Summary
[Inhibitory effect of genistein on the proliferation of the anterior pituitary cells of rats].
Sheng Li Xue Bao. 2001 Feb;53(1):51-4. PMID: 11354798
Department of Physiology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032. [email protected]
The effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein on the proliferation of rat anterior pituitary cells and mouse AtT-20 cells were studied using techniques of cell culture, 3H-TdR incorporation, flow cytometric analysis and electron microscope. Genistein significantly inhibited the proliferation of rat anterior pituitary cells and mouse AtT-20 cells. Genistein (50 and 100 mumol/L) blocked the proliferation of AtT-20 cells at G0/G1 and G2/M phases and evoked an apoptotic peak of these cells with an apoptotic ratio of 19.9% and 36.4%. The apoptotic cells were also observed under the electron microscope. In consequence, genistein, as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, can significantly inhibit the proliferation of pituitary cells possibly by inducing apoptosis, and the tyrosine kinase activity may play a key role in the proliferation and differentiation of pituitary cells.