METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized and received 3-days estradiol-17β benzoate (E2) plus genistein (25, 50, or 100 mg kg(-1)  day(-1) ) or 3-days E2 followed by 3-days E2 plus progesterone with genistein (25, 50, or 100 mg kg(-1)  day(-1) ). A day after last treatment, uterine fluid secretion rate was determined by in vivo uterine perfusion with rats under anesthesia. Animals were sacrificed and uteri were harvested and subjected for histological analyses. Luminal/outer uterine circumference was determined and distribution of AQP-1, 2, 5, and 7 in endometrium was visualized by immunofluorescence. Expression of AQP-1, 2, 5, and 7 proteins and mRNAs were determined by Western blotting and Real-time PCR respectively.

METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into four groups (n = 8) as follows: (i) the Normal Control group (NC), (ii) the BPA-exposed group (PC), (iii) the group concurrently treated with BPA and F. deltoidea (FC) and (iv) the group treated with F. deltoidea alone (F).

RESULTS: After 6 weeks of concurrent treatment with F. deltoidea, uterine abnormalities in the BPA-exposed rats showed a significant improvement. Specifically, the size of stromal cells increased; interstitial spaces between stromal cells expanded; the histology of the glandular epithelium and the myometrium appeared normal and mitotic figures were present. The suppressive effects of BPA on the expression levels of sex steroid receptors (ERα and ERβ) and the immunity gene C3 were significantly normalised by F. deltoidea treatment. The role of F. deltoidea as an antioxidant agent was proven by the significant reduction in malondialdehyde level in BPA-exposed rats. Moreover, in BPA-exposed rats, concurrent treatment with F. deltoidea could normalise the level of the gonadotropin hormone, which could be associated with an increase in the percentage of rats with a normal oestrous cycle.