Relationship between metabolism of androstenone and skatole in intact malepigs

The relationship between the metabolism of androsterone and skatole, the ma jor compounds responsible for boar taint, was investigated in F-4 Swedish Y orkshire x European Wild Pig intact males. The metabolism of androstenone a nd skatole were studied in liver microsomes, and the testicular steroid pro duction was measured in testes microsomes. Including androstenone in the as says of skatole metabolism reduced the formation of 6-hydroxyskatole (pro-M II), and three other skatole metabolites (P < .05). The formation of three additional metabolites was not affected. Liver microsomal incubations of an drostenone produced two metabolites, I and II. The rate of the formation of metabolite I and the rate of androstenone metabolism were correlated with the rate of skatole metabolism. Liver metabolism of androstenone was not re lated to levels of androstenone in fat. Testicular synthesis of 16-androste ne steroids was correlated with combined synthesis of estrogens and androge ns, plasma levels of androstenone, levels of skatole in fat, and skatole me tabolism in the liver (P < .05). Plasma levels of estrone sulfate were corr elated with levels of skatole in fat and with androstenone levels in fat an d plasma and were negatively correlated with synthesis of skatole metabolit e F-1 and pro-MII sulfation. These results indicate that the liver metaboli sm of androstenone and skatole are related. However, it is likely that the relationship between levels of androstenone and skatole in fat is due more to a link between the testicular synthesis of androstenone rather than to t he metabolism of androstenone and skatole in the liver. Sex steroids may af fect this relationship because of their biosynthesis along with androstenon e and possible inhibition of skatole metabolism in the liver.