• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1365-1375
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• 2005

The antiestrogenic effects of marijuana smoke condensate (MSC) and three major cannabinoids, i.e., $\bigtriangleup^{9}$-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN), were evaluated using in vitro bioassays, viz., the human breast cancer cell proliferation assay, the recombinant human estrogen receptor (ER) competitive binding assay, and the reporter gene assay. The inhibitory effects on estrogen were also examined using the ethoxyresorufin-O­deethylase (EROD) assay, the aromatase assay, and the 17$\beta$-estradiol ($E_{2}$) metabolism assay. The results showed that MSC induced the antiestrogenic effect via the ER-mediated pathway, while THC, CBD, and CBN did not have any antiestrogenic activity. This suggests that the combined effects of the marijuana smoke components are responsible for the antiestrogenicity of marijuana use. In addition, MSC induced the CYP1A activity and the $E_{2}$ metabolism, but inhibited the aromatase activity, suggesting that the antiestrogenic activity of MSC is also related to the indirect ER-dependent pathway, as a result of the depletion of the in situ $E_{2}$ level available to bind to the ER. In conclusion, pyrogenic products including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the non-polar fraction, which is the most biologically active fraction among the seven fractions of MSC, might be responsible for the antiestrogenic effect.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.195-195
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• 2003

It is well known that diesel exhaust particulate matter contains mutagenic PAHs, such as benzo[${\alpha}$]pyrene, benz[${\alpha}$]anthracene, chrysene, etc. Therefore it is suspected that these chemicals act on estrogen receptor and reveal endocrine-disrupting effects. Recent attention has focused on causative chemicals of endocrine-disrupting effects. We examined the estrogenic activity of respirable diesel exhaust particulate matter derived from diesel powered vehicle. PM2.5 diesel exhaust of vehicle was collected using a high volume sampler equipped with a cascade impactor. Diesel exhaust samples were fractionated according to EPA methods. The presence of estrogenic and antiestrogenic chemicals in PM 2.5 diesel exhaust was determined using E-screen assay. To quantitatively assess the estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities in diesel exhaust particulate matter, estradiol equivalent concentration (bio-EEQ) was calculated by comparing the concentration response curve of the sample with those of the estrogen calibration curve. Weak estrogenic activities and strong antiestrogenic activities were detected in the crude extract and moderately polar fractions. Higher antiestrogenic potency was observed with higher EROD activities in aliphatic and aromatic compounds fraction. In conclusion, estrogenic/antiestrogenic-like activities were present in diesel exhaust particulate matter. However, the health consequences of this observation was unknown, the presence of these activities may contribute to and exacerbate adverse health effect evoked by diesel exhaust particulate matter.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 1987

The present study has been carried out to elucidate the antiestrogenic effects of tamoxifen in immature rat uterus. The content of DNA and protein and uterine wet weight were measured after the injections of $5{\mu}g$ of estradiol-$17{\beta}$, $50{\mu}g$ of tamoxifen, a combination of both, or vehicle only subcutaneously. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. DNA content in uterus was increased at 48 hours after estradiol-$17{\beta}$ or tamoxifen injection (p<0.01). 2. The increament rate of uterine DNA content was significantly (p<0.01) lower in tamoxifen treated group than that in estradiol-$17{\beta}$ treated group. 3. Antiestrogenic effect of tamoxifen on protein content in uterus was apparent at 72 hours after simultaneous administration of both drugs. 4. The uterine wet weight was started to increase at three hours after the injection of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ or tamoxifen. 5. While estradiol-$17{\beta}$ increased steadily uterine wet weight up to 138.5mg at 72 hours after the injection, but tamoxifen failed to increase it after 48 hours. Tamoxifen inhibited significantly (p<0.01) the effect of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ on it thereafter.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.187-195
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• 1985

The Present study has been carried out to elucidate the antiestrogenic effects of tamoxifen in uteri of immature rats. Immature female Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into 4, groups and injected with $5{\mu}g$ of estradiol-$17{\beta}$, $50{\mu}g$ of tamoxifen, a combination of both or vehicle only subcutaneously three times after an interval of 24 hours respectively. The concentrations, of cytosol estradiol receptor in uterus were measured by DCC method before and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the above treatments and those of nuclear estradiol were measured by protamine exchange method 72 hours and those of nuclear estradiol were measured by protamine exchange method 72 hours after the above treatments. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. The binding affinity of tamoxifen to estradiol receptor in uterine cytosol was lower than that of estradiol-$17{\beta}$, accordingly the translocation of estradiol receptor into the nucleus was found to be delayed. 2. Tamoxifen caused the retention of estradiol receptor in nucleus over 24 hours and inhibited the replenishment of the receptor from nucleus to cytosol in uterus.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.579-585
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• 1997

To gain further insight into the mechanism of action of antiestrogens, we examined the interaction of antiestrogen with the estrogen receptor system and with estrogen- noncompetable antiestrogen binding sites. In addition to binding directly to the estrogen receptor, antiestrogens can be found associated with binding sites that are distinct from the estrogen receptor. In contrast to the restriction of estrogen receptors to estrogen target cells, such as those of uterus and mammary glands, antiestrogen binding sites are present in equal amounts in estrogen receptor-positive and -negative human breast cancer cell lines, such as MCF-7, T47D, and MDA-MB-231 that differ markedly in their sensitivity to antiestrogens. In order to gain greater insight into the role of these antiestrogen binding sites in the action of antiestrogens, we have examined the biopotency of different antiestrogens for the antiestrogen binding sites and that is CI628 > tamoxifen > trans-hydroxy tamoxifen > CI628M > H1285 > LY117018. This order of affinities does not parallel the affinity of these compounds for the estrogen receptor nor the potency of these compounds as antiestrogens. Indeed, compounds with high affinity for the estrogen receptor and greatest antiestrogenic potency have low affinities for these antiestrogen binding sites. Antiestrogenic potency correlates best with estrogen receptor affinity and not with affinity for antiestrogen binding sites. In summary, our findings suggested that interaction with the estrogen receptor is most likely the mechanism through which antiestrogens evoke their growth inhibitory effects.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.296.2-296.2
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• 2002

Our previous study demonstrated that 2.3', 4.4'. 5- Pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 118) showed an antiestrogenic activity in vitro and in vivo. In the present study. we examined the effect of PCB 118 on postnatal reproductive development in female rats. PCB 118 (0.001. 0.01 or 0.1 mg/kg/day) was administered to pregnant female SD rats from gestation day (GO) 6 to 18 via subcutaneous injection. and developmental parameters such as vaginal opening were determined. PCB 118 significantly delayed vaginal opening of female offsprings at dose of 0.1 ${\mu}g$/kg/day. whereas had no effects on body weights. In addition. in utero treatment of PCB 118 caused significant decreases in serum levels of E2, T3 and T4 in female oftsprings at certain doses on postnatal day (PND) 22. Our data of results indicate that in utero exposure to PCB 118 may postnatal reproductive development in female rat through its antiestrogenic activity.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 1986

The present study has been carried out to elucidate the antiestrogenic effects of tamoxifen on RNA and protein synthesis in uteri of immature rats. Immature female Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into 4 groups and injected with $5{\mu}g$ of estradiol-$17{\beta}$, $50{\mu}g$ of tamoxifen, a combination of both, or vehicle only subcutaneously three times with an interval of 24 hours respectively. The specific activities of $^3H$-uridine incorporation into uterine RNA and those of $^3H$-leucine incorporation into uterine protein were measured before and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the above treatments. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. Tamoxifen itself increased RNA synthesis an hour after treatment(169.18% of control), but it's specific activity was reduced to control level after 3 hours. Tamoxifen inhibited significantly (p<0.01) the activity of RNA synthesis of estradiol-$17{\beta}$. 2. The increasing rate of protein synthesis was lower in tamoxifen treated group than that in estradiol-$17{\beta}$ treated group. While the rate was steadily increased up to 357.4% of control by estradiol-$17{\beta}$ in 72 hours, tamoxifen itself failed to increase the rate after 24 hours and significantly (p<0.01) inhibited the activity of estradiol-$17{\beta}$(-167.4%).

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.354-362
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• 2006

Dietary flavonoids have attracted a great deal of attention as agents for preventing estrogen-related diseases, such as postmenopausal symptoms, and for reducing the risk of estrogen-dependent cancer. Kaempferol is one of the most commonly found dietary phytoestrogen. The aim of this study was to investigate the estrogenic and/or antiestrogenic effect of kaempferol, which can confirm its potency as a preventive agent against estrogen-related diseases. Kaempferol has both estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity, which are biphasic response on estrogen receptor. The estrogenic activity of kaempferol induced via ER-mediated pathway depending on $E_2$ concentration $(\leq\;10^{-12}M)$. Kaempferol $(10^{-5}\;M)$ also caused antiproliferative effect on MCF-7 cell in the presence of $E_2\;(10^{-11}\;M)$ and restored to the addition of excess $E_2\;(10^{-7}\;M)$, which confirms that antiproliferation of kaempferol was induced via ER-dependent pathway. However, at $10^{-4}\;M$, concentration higher than the concentrations at which the estrogenic effects of kaempferol are detected $(10^{-5}\;M)$, kaempferol induced strong antiproliferative effect, but were unaffected by the addition of excess $E_2\;(10^{-7}\;M)$ indicating that kaempferol exerts antiproliferation via ER-independent pathway. In particular, kaempferol blocked the focus formation induced by $E_2$, which confirms that kaempferol might inhibit the malignant transformation caused by estrogens. Therefore, we suggested that kaempferol might regulate a suitable level of estrogenic activity in the body and is expected to have potential beneficial effects in preventing estrogen imbalance diseases (breast cancer, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and etc.).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.521-526
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• 2002

A number of experimental and epidemiological studies have implicated that antiestrogenic effects of estrogen-like compounds in legumes and plant seeds are responsible for lowering breast cancer risk in human. However, few studies have been conducted to illustrate the possible chemopreventive effects of Korean traditional food materials. This study was performed to determine the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of yellow soybeans, black soybeans and brown rice extracts on hormone-dependent and hormone-independent human breast cancer cells. Methanol-or acetone-soluble fractions of soybeans or brown rice were incubated with hormone-dependent cells (MCF-7) or hormone-independent cells (MDA-MB-231). Cell cytotoxicity was measured by MTT assay at 24, 48 and 72 hrs of incubation. Apoptotic effects of these extracts toward breast cancer cells were also determined at 48 hrs of incubation by measuring DNA fragmentation. Results indicated that the acetone-soluble fraction of brown rice exerted strongest cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 ceIls, although other fractions also reduced the number of viable MCF-7 cells after 48 hrs of incubation. Both acetone and methanol soluble fractions of all samples exerted a significant cytotoxicity towards MDA-MB-231 cells after 24 hrs of incubation, and acetone and methanol soluble fractions of brown rice were especially effective in these cells. At 48 hrs of incubation, methanol fractions of all three samples induced apopotosis of MDA-MB-231 cells. These results indicate methaol or acetone soluble fractions of yellow soybeans, black soybeans and brown rice induce cytotoxicity in both hormone-dependent and hormone-independent breast cancer cells. Therefore, possible mechanisms of cell cytotoxicity do not necessarily include antiestrogenic effects of soybean or brown rice extract. A possible anticarcinogenic effect of brown rice methanol-soluble fraction may mediated through their apoptotic effect. Further studies are requried to elucidate responsible compounds and mechanisms involved in observed anticarcinogenesis.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.694-700
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• 2001

Synthetic pyrethroids are analysis of a natural chemical moiety, pyrethrin derived from the pyrethrum plant Chrysanthemum. The natural pyrethrin structure has been modified to be highly lipophilic and photostable, creating an effective pesticide and resulting in an increased presence in the environment. Worldwide, they are commonly used insecticides against ticks, mites, mosquitoes, and as treatment for human head lice and scabies. Therefore, human exposure to their compounds in extensive. Several studies on the effects of pyrethroids on thyroid hormone regulation, estrogen and androgen function have been reported and yet little has been done try assess their potential hormonal activities. Among humans, a pyrethroid compound was suggested to be the causal agent for gynecomastia in a group of Haitian men. The reports suggest that some pyrethroid compounds are capable of disrupting endocrine function. Therefore, we examined estrogenic/antiestrogenic potential of three pyrethroid insecticides, that is permethrin, allethrin and fenvalerate in human breast cancer cell and action mechanism mediated by the estrogen receptor. Fenvalerate showed weak estrogenic activity but aallethrin and permethrin showed no effect. In combination with high levels (10$^{-10}$ M, 10$^{-11}$ M) of 17$\beta$-estradiol and three synthetic pyrethroids inhibited cert proliferations in MCF7-BUS cell by 17$\beta$-estradiol. Whereas, fenvalerate increased cell proliferative activity at lower level of estradiol (10$^{-12}$ M, 10$^{-13}$ M). The relative affinities to the estrogen receptor were observed by allethrin and permethrin treatment, but not by fenvalerate. These results indicated that some of pyrethroid insecticides may modulate estrogen functions in human breast cancer cell. The action mechanisms of estrogen receptor mediated antiestrogenicity by allethrin and permethrin were postulated.