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Testicular development, androstenone levels and androstenone odour of untreated and trenbolone implanted boars
Author(s) -
Ventanas Jesús,
Sancho Gabriel,
GarciaRegueiro Jose A,
Antequera Teresa,
Martinez Margarita,
LópezBote Clemente
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740570114
Subject(s) - androstenone , endocrinology , medicine , testosterone (patch) , litter , endocrine system , adipose tissue , boar taint , androgen , testicle , biology , castration , body weight , zoology , hormone , agronomy
Twelve boars were implanted at 50 kg live weight with 300 mg of trenbolone acetate (TBA), and 12 male litter mates were held as controls. All animals were slaughtered at 175 days of age and ∼ 100 kg live weight. TBA administration led to a decrease in testicle size (P<0.001) and testosterone levels (P<0.05). Histological evidence of modifications of the intertubular area (Leydig cells) in the testicle was found. Decrease of weight and endocrine secretion in the testes reduced the accumulation of 5α‐androstenone in adipose tissue from a mean ± SEM value of 0–52 ± 0–16 μg g −1 fat for untreated boars to 0–22±0–04 μg g −1 fat for implanted animals. Sensory evaluation of androstenone odour using the hot iron method demonstrated that the percentage of unfavourable opinions was high for control boars whereas none of the implanted males exhibited detectable androstenone odour. These induced modifications of testicular secretion by androgen administration in pigs—in contrast to castration—have the advantage of reducing the androstenone odour without decreasing the productive performance of entire males.