Androgen and Estrogen Metabolism in the Reproductive Tract and Accessory Sex Glands of the Domestic Boar (Sus scrofa)

• Published in: Biology of reproduction Vol. 61; no. 5; pp. 1242 - 1248
• Main Authors: RAESIDE, J. I, CHRISTIE, H. L, RENAUD, R. L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison, WI Society for the Study of Reproduction 01-11-1999
• Subjects: Androgens - analysis; Androgens - metabolism; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Estradiol - metabolism; Estrogens - analysis; Estrogens - metabolism; Estrone - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genitalia - chemistry; Genitalia - metabolism; Genitalia, Male - chemistry; Genitalia, Male - metabolism; Hormone metabolism and regulation; Hydrolysis; In Vitro Techniques; Indicators and Reagents; Male; Mammalian male genital system; Swine; Testosterone - metabolism; Vertebrates: reproduction; Androgen; Seminal vesicle; Metabolite; Estrogen; Metabolism; Male genital system; Ovarian hormone; Testosterone; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Accessory sex organ; Artiodactyla; Testicular hormone; Sex steroid hormone; Urogenital system; Prostate; Sus scrofa; Ungulata
• ISSN: 0006-3363; 1529-7268
• DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod61.5.1242

Steroid metabolism in target tissues has relevance in assessing biological response. We have investigated the metabolism of
testosterone and estrogens in the reproductive tract and accessory sex glands in the boar. Seminal vesicles were taken from
four 6-mo-old animals; and seminal vesicles, prostate, vas deferens, and regions of the epididymis were taken from two mature
boars (10 and 24 mo old). Tissues were incubated in 5 ml medium (TC-199) at 34°C under 5% CO 2 and 95% air for 2 h with 3 H-labeled testosterone, estrone, and estradiol-17β. Aliquots of spent media were taken to measure radioactivity before separation
of unconjugated and conjugated steroids on Waters C 18 Sep-Pak cartridges. Sulfoconjugated steroids and glucuronidates were recovered in series from C 18 cartridges after solvolysis and enzyme hydrolysis, respectively. Profiles of metabolites for free and hydrolyzed fractions
were obtained from gradient HPLC with acetonitrile:water on a reversed-phase C 18 column. No clear evidence of conjugation was seen for testosterone metabolites. 5α-Dihydrotestosterone was the principal
metabolite, but the amounts formed depended on the source, with little from the epididymal tissues and seminal vesicles, but
greater quantities from the vas deferens (> 25%) and prostate (> 30%). The most noteworthy feature of estrogen metabolism
was the extent of conjugation by all tissues. Almost all radioactivity in the conjugate fractions for the epididymis and vas
was present as sulfates. Glucuronidates were seen for the prostate and were the dominant form of conjugation (about 60%) for
the seminal vesicles. A striking parallel existed for the profiles of estrogen metabolites from all tissues for unconjugated
and hydrolyzed fractions. Only in quantitative terms were some distinctions noted. These overall findings underscore a need
to consider local metabolism of steroid hormones in target tissues of the male reproductive system.