Factors affecting the pheromone composition of voided boar saliva.
The pheromone binding protein 'pheromaxein' which binds the pheromonal 16-androstene steroids in the saliva of the male pig (boar), was degraded and lost its binding activity in saliva incubated in air for 72 h at 21 degrees C and 37 degrees C. However, pheromaxein and its binding activity were retained in saliva incubated for 168 h at 4 degrees C. When the 3H-labelled pheromones 5 alpha-androst-16-en-3 alpha-ol (3 alpha-androstenol), 5 alpha-androst-16-en-3-one (5 alpha-androstenone) and 5 alpha-androst-16-en-3 beta-ol (3 beta-androstenol) were incubated with boar saliva for 168 h at 21 degrees C, 3 alpha-androstenol was primarily converted to 5 alpha-androstenone and 5 alpha-androstenone to 3 beta-androstenol; 3 beta-androstenol was unchanged. Evidence was obtained for microorganisms being responsible for these steroid transformations.
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Cambridge Research Station, Babraham, U.K.
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Booth
D000736:Androstenes / Q000378:metabolism; D000737:Androstenols / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D010675:Pheromones / Q000378:metabolism*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D000736:Androstenes; D000737:Androstenols; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010675:Pheromones; C054734:pheromaxein; C003530:androst-16-en-3-ol; C000214:androst-16-en-3-one; C026828:5 alpha-androst-16-en-3 beta-ol