RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FAT AND PLASMA ANDROSTENONE AND PLASMA TESTOSTERONE IN FATTY AND LEAN YOUNG BOARS DURING GROWTH AND AFTER HCG STIMULATION

The effect of weight of fatty tissue on fat and plasma androstenone and on plasma testosterone relationships in the young boar was studied [as meat production is often hampered by boar taint]. hCG [human chorionic gonadotropin] stimulation of steroid testicular production was performed in 12 boars and fat androstenone concentration subsequently measured. In addition plasma androstenone and testosterone were determined in 8 of them, previously cannulated. Although plasma testosterone response to hCG stimulation was similar in all boars, fat and plasma androstenone responses were very variable between boars; weight of fatty tissue appeared to have little influence, if any, on androstenone exchanges between plasma and fatty tissue; and plasma androstenone/testosterone ratio appeared to be less variable within boars than between boars. There is probably some between-boars-variability in the respective rates of elimination of testosterone and androstenone.