Objective: Metabolites profiling provides global insights in characterisations and interactions of metabolites under specific physiological or pathologic states. The aim of this study was to examine serum metabolic changes in bilateral ovariectomised (OVX) rats and those exposed to 17β-oestradiol (E(2), 30 μg/kg bw, sc.) or genistein (50 μg/kg bw, sc.) for 12 weeks.
Methods: Serum samples were detected by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-q-TOF-MS). Significant variables were found by the orthogonal partial least-squares analysis and identified by matching their tandem MS fragmentation patterns with reference standards.
Results: There were 54 variables changed in OVX group compared with sham group. Genistein might induce more intensive changes of metabolites than E(2) in OVX rats. Among the 54 significant variables of OVX group, 8 and 20 were found to be affected by E(2) and genistein, respectively. Finally, four of them were identified as arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol. Both E(2) and genistein could reverse levels of AA, EPA and ergocalciferol to sham levels. Only genistein treatment could reverse the level of cholecalciferol.
Conclusions: This study provided a serum profile of ovary dysfunction and showed some similarities and differences between E(2) and genistein treatments of the OVX model.