Abstract: The aim of this study was to observe the effects of allicin on estrogen and androgen receptors of mice spleen cells.Healthy clean ICR mice were randomly divided into three experimental groups and three control groups.Experimental groups were consecutively fed with allicin for 14,21 and 28 days,respectively,whereas the control groups were administered with saline over the corresponding period.RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of the estrogen receptor (ER-α, ER-β) in spleen cells of female mice and the androgen receptor (AR) in spleen cells of male mice.The mRNA expression levels of ER-α mRNA in 14 and 21 days allicin groups,the ER-β mRNA expression levels in 14 days allicin group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05).The mRNA expression levels of AR were raised in experimental male mice as compared with the control group(P<0.05).Hence,it was concluded that allicin enhanced mRNA expression levels of estrogen receptor (ER-α and ER-β) and androgen receptor (AR) in mouse spleen cells.

Key words: allicin, estrogen receptor, androgen receptor