Effects of black cohosh on estrogen biosynthesis in hippocampus of non-human primates ex vivo in vitro and in human neuroblastoma cells in vitro

Background: Estrogens have neuroprotective properties. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of an isopropanolic extract of Cimicifuga racemosa (iCR), 17ß-estradiol (E2), testosterone (T) and Tibolone’s 3α-OH metabolite (Org4094) on local estrogen formation in hippocampus tissue from non-human primates ex vivo in vitro and human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) in vitro. Methods: SH-SY5Y cells were incubated in RPMI 1640 medium containing 5 % steroid-depleted fetal calf serum for 3 days, and subsequently incubated in absence or presence of iCR at 10 μg/ml (n = 5) and 1 μg/ml (n = 5), E2 at 10 −8 M (n = 5), and 10 −6 M (n = 5), or T at 10 −8 M (n = 5), and 10 −6 M (n = 5), respectively, at 37 °C for either 24 h or directly in cell extracts. Hippocampus tissue from healthy female cynomolgus macaques (n = 14) was homogenized and treated with iCR, E2 and Org4049 accordingly. STS activity was evaluated by incubating homogenized brain cells and tissue with [3H]-estrone sulfate and separating the products estrone (E1) and E2 by thin layer chromatography. STS activity was expressed as total estrogen formation (E1 + E2) fmol/mg of protein/min. Statistical comparisons were made using unpaired T-Test for comparing two sets of data and ANOVA to compare many groups a...
Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations - Category: Epidemiology Authors: Source Type: research