Animals (Nov 2021)

The Uptake and Deconjugation of Androstenone Sulfate in the Adipose Tissue of the Boar

  • Christine Bone,
  • E. James Squires

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113158
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 11
p. 3158

Abstract

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Boars express high testicular levels of sulfotransferase enzymes, and consequently, the boar taint causing compound androstenone predominantly circulates as a steroid sulfate. Androstenone sulfate is suspected to function as a steroid reservoir that can be deconjugated to provide a source of free androstenone for accumulation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to characterize the uptake and deconjugation of androstenone sulfate in the adipose tissue of the boar. Real-time PCR was used to quantify the expression of steroid sulfatase (STS) and several organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) in the adipose tissue. Additionally, [3H]-androstenone sulfate was incubated with adipocytes or supernatant from homogenized fat to assess steroid uptake and conversion, respectively. A positive correlation existed between OATP-B expression and androstenone sulfate uptake (r = 0.86, p = 0.03), as well as between STS expression and androstenone sulfate conversion (r = 0.76, p p < 0.001) with androstenone sulfate conversion and tended to increase with STS expression in early maturing boars. This suggests that androstenone sulfate uptake and deconjugation are mediated by OATP-B and STS, respectively, which may influence the development of boar taint in early maturing animals.

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