Dietary soy protein isolate (SPI) and the isoflavones daidzein and genistein have been shown to provide neuroprotection from stroke. However, the mechanisms remain uncertain. We sought to determine whether the addition of isoflavones to a diet containing caseinate (CAS) as the protein source would induce behavioral neuroprotection similar to that seen previously in rats fed SPI. Furthermore, we aimed to characterize the baseline and poststroke expression of mRNAs involved in pathways previously published as perhaps mediating soy-based neuroprotection from stroke and other markers of neuronal plasticity, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Adult male rats were fed a semipurified diet containing (1) sodium caseinate (CAS), (2) CAS plus daidzein and genistein (CAS+ISO), or (3) SPI for 2 weeks. A subset of rats was euthanized, and tissue was collected for quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Remaining rats underwent a middle cerebral artery occlusion to induce a stroke. Samples for qPCR were collected on day 3 poststroke. Rats fed SPI made fewer errors on the skilled ladder rung walking task after stroke compared to rats fed CAS (P < .05). Rats fed CAS+ISO were not different from rats fed CAS or SPI. Significant effects of diet were found at day 0 for Syp, Pparg, and Ywhae and at day 3 for Rtn4 expression. We concluded that the benefits of SPI are not solely attributable to daidzein and genistein.
Keywords: MCAO; behavior; diet; isoflavone; neuroprotection.