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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jas.2007-0283v1 85/11/2924    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Moe, M. Articles by Doran, O. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Moe, M. Articles by Doran, O.

Expression of 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, cytochrome P450-c17, and sulfotransferase 2B1 proteins in liver and testis of pigs of two breeds: Relationship with adipose tissue androstenone concentration¹

M. Moe^*,, E. Grindflek^* and O. Doran^,2

^* Norsvin, PO Box 504, 2304 Hamar, Norway; and Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, PO Box 5003, 1432 Ås, Norway; and and Division of Farm Animal Science, School of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol, BS40 5DU, United Kingdom

² Corresponding author: o.doran{at}bristol.ac.uk

An excessive accumulation of androstenone in pig adipose tissue is a major contributor to the phenomenon of boar taint. Androstenone deposition is dependent on the rate of androstenone biosynthesis in testis and androstenone degradation in liver. The aim of the current study was to examine the possibility of the existence of breed-specific mechanisms controlling androstenone accumulation in pig adipose tissue. The specific objective was to investigate the expression of some of the key enzymes involved in testicular and hepatic androstenone metabolism in pigs of 2 breeds by using animals with high and low androstenone concentrations within each breed. The study was conducted with Norwegian Landrace (N. Landrace) and Duroc boars. The mean androstenone values for the low- and high-androstenone groups were 0.1 ± 0.01 µg/g and 7.58 ± 0.68 µg/g for N. Landrace boars, and 0.22 ± 0.04 µg/g and 13.55 ± 1.14 µg/g for Duroc boars. The enzymes investigated were 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD), cytochrome P450-c17, and sulfotransferase 2B1 (SULT2B1). Expression of cytochrome P450-c17 in liver and testis did not differ between animals with high and low androstenone concentrations in either the N. Landrace or Duroc breed. Expression of hepatic 3ß-HSD, which catalyzes the first stage of androstenone degradation, was decreased in high-androstenone N. Landrace boars (P < 0.01), but not in high-androstenone Duroc boars. In contrast, the expression of hepatic SULT2B1, which catalyzes the second stage of steroid catabolism, was decreased in high-androstenone Duroc animals (P < 0.05), but not in high-androstenone N. Landrace animals. Sulfotransferase 2B1 was also inhibited in testis of high-androstenone pigs of both breeds compared with low-androstenone animals. We report breed differences in expression of the androsten-one-metabolizing enzymes 3ß-HSD and SULT2B1 in the liver of high- and low-androstenone pigs. It is suggested that accumulation of androstenone in adipose tissue of N. Landrace boars might be related to a low rate of hepatic androstenone degradation in metabolic stage I, whereas the high androstenone concentration in Duroc boars might be related to a low rate of androstenone metabolism in metabolic stage II.

Key Words: androstenone • breed • cytochrome P450-c17 • 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase • pig • sulfotransferase 2B1