The synthesis of 16-androstene sulfoconjugates from primary porcine Leydig cell culture.
Steroids
; 146: 14-20, 2019 06.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30904503
ABSTRACT
Increased public interest in the welfare of pigs reared for pork production has led to an enhanced effort in finding alternatives to castration for controlling the unpleasant odour and flavour from heated pork products known as boar taint. The purpose of this study was to investigate the testicular metabolism of androstenone, one of the major components of boar taint. Leydig cells were isolated from mature boars and incubated with radiolabeled androstenone for 10â¯min, 1â¯h, 4â¯h, 8â¯h, and 12â¯h. Steroid profiles were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Sulfoconjugated, but not glucuronidated steroids were produced by Leydig cells. Approximately 85% of androstenone was converted into sulfoconjugated metabolites in Leydig cell incubations after 8â¯h. This sulfoconjugate fraction included androstenol-3-sulfate and two major sulfated forms of androstenone. Following removal of the sulfate group, these two sulfated forms of androstenone returned the parent compound androstenone, and not a hydroxylated metabolite. These findings provided direct evidence for the testicular production of sulfoconjugated forms of androstenone and androstenol in the boar. The high proportion of sulfoconjugates produced by the Leydig cells emphasizes the importance of steroid conjugation, which serves to regulate the amount of unconjugated steroid hormones available for accumulation in adipose tissue.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Sulfur
/
Androstenes
/
Leydig Cells
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Steroids
Year:
2019
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Canada