Differential endocrine response in rams to intracerebroventricular infusion of genistein

The intracerebroventricular infusions of genistein (total 40 mug) were made in male sheep (November) to test its influence on melatonin, growth hormone (GH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. The analysis of the results encompassed 3 similar periods: before the infusion (afternoon hours) the first (evening hours) and the second (night hours) halves of the treatment. The night plasma concentration of melatonin in genistein-infused rams was significantly lower than that noted during the respective period in vehicle-infused rams. Plasma GH concentration increased significantly in both vehicle- and genistein-infused rams during the night hours, as compared with the concentrations noted during the afternoon and evening, however, genistein significantly stimulated the amplitude of GH pulses in these latter. The LH concentration was significantly lower during the second part of genistein treatment, than in vehicle-infused rams. The frequency and amplitude of LH pulses clearly tended to decrease following genistein infusion. In conclusion, genistein, acting at the central nervous system level in sexually active rams is able to reduce the secretion of melatonin and LH and has also a slight stimulatory effect on the amplitude of GH pulses.