Gene expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in relation to androstenone, testosterone, and estrone sulphate in gonadally intact male and castrated pigs1

Androstenone is one of the main compounds responsible for boar taint, and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3βHSD) might be involved in its metabolism. In this study, the gene expression of 3βHSD and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17βHSD) were determined by real-time PCR analysis and related to the concentrations of androstenone, testosterone, and estrone sulphate (E1S). The experiments were performed on gonadally intact male pigs classified based on high or low fat androstenone concentrations, as predetermined by HPLC, as well as on immunocastrated and surgically castrated male pigs. The male pigs with high androstenone concentrations in fat had low 3βHSD gene expression in liver and testis. Moreover, the 17βHSD gene expression in liver, but not in testis, varied negatively with fat androstenone concen