The effect of soy isoflavone extract on the morphology and morphometry of the urinary tract of
ovariectomised Sprague Dwaley rats were evaluated using histological methods. Twenty four
virgin adult Sprague Dawley rats were placed into three groups treated as follows: sham operate
+ distilled water, ovariectomy + soy isoflavone and ovariectomy + distilled water for 65 days. A
125μg isoflavone/g body weight/ day dosage was administered to the experimental group with ad
libitum soy-free feed and water. The means for variables muscularis thickness, lamina propria
thickness, muscle nuclei density, epithelium thickness and number of blood vessels were
compared using ANOVA at 95% confidence interval. The sham operated group recorded
significantly higher values for muscularis thickness and muscle nuclei density in all organs
compared to the other two groups. Lamina propria thickness was lowest in the sham-vehicle
treared group for all organs. No significant differences in the lamina propria thickness were
recorded between the ovariectomy + isoflavone treated and the ovariectomy + distilled water
treated groups in the urethra and bladder ( p=0.74; p=0.20) respectively. Urethral blood vessel
numbers were significantly higher in the ovariectomy+ soy isoflavone group compared to the
control groups (p=0.03). Ovariectomy resulted muscle depletion and vacuolation copled with an
increase in lamina propria thickness in all organs. Soy isoflavones slightly reversed the effects of
ovariectomy on muscle and connective tissue components of the bladder, urethra and ureter. Soy
isoflavones were able to weakly positively influence the morphology and morphometry of the
urinary tract
