Perinatal exposure of biochanin-A induced abnormalities in offspring of rats

Estrogenic activity is found with many phytoestrogens, including Biochanin-A (BC-A). The present studyis to examine the effect of prenatal and perinatal exposure of BC-A on developmental land marks and behaviorin wistar rats. The mated female rats were injected with 25, 50 and 100 mg BC-A/Kg body weight on 12 th , 14 th , 16 th and 18 th day of gestation. The exposure was continued up tocompletion of weaning period. After weaning, male and female pups were separated and maintained in separate cages with normal pellet diet and tap water ad libitum. The developmental landmarks and behavior of young ones were recorded starting from birth to completionof weaning. Observed significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the number of live pus and sex (male/female) ratio of rat pups exposed transplacentally to BC-A when compared to control group. Body weights of young ones were measured on post natal day (PND) 1, 7, 14 and 21 and observed significant decrease (p < 0.005) in 50 and 100 mg BC-A perinatally exposed young ones than the control and25 mg BC-A exposed groups. No significant changes (p > 0.05) were recorded in fur development and ear opening in exposed young ones. Whereas significant increase in pinna detachment (p < 0.05), upper incisor eruption (p < 0.05) and preputial separation (p < 0.005) were observed in pups perinatally exposed to 100 mg BC-A only. Incontrast, significant decrease in anogenital distance (AGD) (p < 0.05) in male and female pups was observed at 100 mg BC-A trans-placental exposure. In case of crown rump length (CRL), we observed significance (p < 0.05) at 50 and 100 mg BC-A trans-placental exposure. Decrease in survival index was also observed on PND 1 and 14 inyoung rats exposed perinatally to BC-A. Besides above results, rat pups perinatally exposed to 50 and 100mg BC-A showed significant increase in lower incisor eruption (p < 0.05), eye opening (p < 0.005), vaginal opening (p < 0.005) and testis descent (p < 0.05). These data demonstrate that significant alterations in developmental landmarks of young rats exposed transplacentally and perinatally to BC-A.