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Biomedical subjects

W D Booth

Publications and source records attributed to W D Booth.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Pheromaxein, the pheromonal steroid-binding protein, is a major protein synthesized in porcine submaxillary salivary glands.

Submaxillary salivary gland tissue from large White, Göttingen miniature and Meishan (Chinese) breeds of pig, and European wild boars, was incubated with [35S]methionine. The radiolabelled amino acid was incorporated into protein in all incubations as demonstrated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Specifically [35S]methionine was predominantly incorporated into the alpha- and beta-charge isomers of pheromaxein, a 16-androstene steroid-binding protein, as shown by SDS-PAGE in combination with vertical isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide slab gels. The synthesis of pheromaxein occurred in submaxillary gland tissue from both sexes, including tissues stored frozen at -70 degrees C for long periods. There was little evidence for pheromaxein synthesis in parotid gland tissue or skeletal muscle. Total protein, pheromaxein and total 16-androstenes were determined in the submaxillary gland cytosols of six mature Göttingen miniature boars and a positive correlation was found between these glandular constituents. The amounts of endogenous pheromaxein relative to total protein in the submaxillary gland cytosols (range 10.3-18.0%), together with the predominant synthesis of this protein in vitro, indicate that pheromaxein is a major protein produced in porcine submaxillary glands, particularly in those of the male.

Androstenes↗
PubMed1989

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for cortisol in the saliva of man and domestic farm animals.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay has been developed for the direct assay of cortisol in the saliva of man, sheep, calf and pig. The assay is sensitive (integral of 1pg), highly specific and reproducible, and has the advantage over radioimmunoassay in being cheaper and quicker to carry out. The relatively-non invasive method of collecting saliva on cotton buds coupled with simple assay equipment provide a good potential for assessing cortisol status in studies on stress and welfare in farm animals as well as the possibility of monitoring cortisol status in mammals generally.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The isolation, purification and some properties of pheromaxein, the pheromonal steroid-binding protein, in porcine submaxillary glands and saliva.

Pheromaxein, the 16-androstene steroid-binding protein with a relative molecular mass of 15,000 was isolated in sub-milligram quantities from the submaxillary gland and saliva of the Gottingen miniature boar, after a fourfold purification involving the following methods: ultrafiltration for submaxillary gland cytosols and ethanol precipitation for saliva, Concanavalin-A-Sepharose affinity chromatography, sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, 'Extractigel-D' affinity chromatography (to remove sodium dodecyl sulphate) and fast protein-liquid chromatography. Yields of purified pheromaxein obtained after fast protein-liquid chromatography represented 10-20% of total protein present in an ultrafiltrate of a submaxillary gland cytosol. Fast protein-liquid chromatography separated the alpha- and beta-charge isomers of pheromaxein which were shown to have isoelectric points of 4.78 and 5.35 respectively on flat-bed isoelectric focusing. Some data are provided for the variable occurrence of the isomeric forms of pheromaxein in relation to different breeds of pig. Five 16-unsaturated steroids showed the highest binding to pheromaxein. Other steroids of the 5 alpha- and 5 beta-androstane series also showed some binding to pheromaxein, i.e. 17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstan-3-one (19.2%), with 5 alpha-androstan-3-one, which has a similar urinous odour to 5 alpha-androst-16-en-3-one, showing the greatest binding (42.6%) relative to 5 alpha-androst-16-en-3-one (100%).

Animals↗
PubMed1987

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.

Androstenes↗
PubMed1977

The effect of oxytocin treatment on the levels of prostaglandin F in the blood of heifers.

Six heifers with normal oestrous cycles were treated i.m. with 100 i.u. oxytocin on 3 consecutive days, commencing on Days 1-6 after oestrus, and the levels of prostaglandin (PG) F in posterior vena cava plasma were compared with pretreatment values. An increase of PGF in response to oxytocin was significantly influenced by day, with the greatest response occurring on Day 3 after oestrus. In an ovariectomized heifer the levels of PGF in posterior vena cava plasma increased 24 h after priming with oestradiol, but no further increase occurred after oxytocin injection. Peak levels of PGF were higher in the plasma of the posterior vena cava than in the jugular vein. Various storage conditions of the blood before centrifugation and freezing (--20 degrees C) produced significant differences in plasma levels of endogenous PGF, but storage experiments with added labelled PGF-2alpha indicated that the PG was stable in plasma and whole blood.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

The occurrence of C19 steroids in testicular tissue and submaxillary glands of intersex pigs in relation to morphological characteristics.

Five true hermaphrodite pigs and two male pseudohermaphrodite pigs were studied. A 38XX sex chromosome constitution was found in peripheral leucocytes of three true hermaphrodites and in one male pseudohermaphrodite; XX/XY mixoploidy was present in the leucocytes of the remaining male pseudohermaphrodite. The occurrence of C19 steroids, including 16-androstenes, in the testicular tissue and submaxillary gland of intersex pigs was of a similar pattern to that found previously in mature boars, and masculinization of the genital tract was related to the amount of testicular tissue present. It is postulated that in the absence of germ cells in the testicular tissue of intersex pigs the Sertoli cells may be involved in the metabolism of dehydroepiandrosterone to 5-androstenediol, a possible testosterone precursor in the pig. The high levels of 16-androstenes found in the submaxillary gland of intersex pigs indicates that these steroids are responsible for 'boar taint' in these animals. In contrast to the boar, no consistent relationship was found between the occurrence of C19 steroids and the degree of masculinization of the submaxillary gland; it is postulated that the predominantly female genetic constitution may have affected the response of the salivary gland to androgen.

Androstenediols↗
PubMed1975

Plasma oestrogen and progesterone in relation to superovulation and egg recovery in the cow.

Pregnant mares serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) was used in combination with prostaglandin F2alpha or its analogues to induce superovulation in 25 heifers. Total unconjugated oestrogen and progesterone were determined in peripheral plasma of these superovulated animals, and the levels compared with those found during the normal oestrous cycle. A very high level of oestrogen was found between day 3 and 6 after superovulation, and it seems likely that large unovulated follicles were responsible for the excess steroid. Similarly, progesterone levels were raised in the superovulated animal presumably due to production by the numerous corpora lutea. In two heifers, in which overstimulation of follicular development had occurred, there were no ovulations in one of the animals while in the other animal there were 16 ovulations but early regression of corpora lutea was indicated. It is concluded that the poor recovery of eggs on day 6 after superovulation could have been due to deleterious effects of high levels of oestrogen on either the motility of the genital tract causing the premature transport of eggs, or the properties of the zona pellucida.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Changes with age in the occurrence of C19 steroids in the testis and submaxillary gland of the boar.

After extraction from the testes of boars of different ages, C19 steroids including 16-androstenes were determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Similarly, 16-androstenes were determined in the submaxillary glands of these boars. A high concentration of testosterone was found in the testes of 84-day-old fetuses, and this might be significant in the differentiation of male behaviour. The amount of testosterone exceeded that of androstenedione during postnatal development, and dehydroepiandrosterone and 5-androstenediol as free and sulphates were found in high concentrations particularly in postpubertal boars, suggesting that the 5-ene pathway for the synthesis of testosterone might be important. There was a change in the predominance of individual 16-androstenes in the testis during development, which closely paralleled the sequence for the biosynthesis of these compounds proposed from previous studies in vitro. Whereas the amount of 5alpha-androst-16-en-3beta-ol exceeded that of 5alpha-androst-16-en-3alpha-ol in post-pubertal testes, 5alpha-androst-16-en-3alpha-ol was predominant in the submaxillary glands at all ages. The high concentration of 16-androstenes found in the mature boar, are discussed in relation to their release as pheromones and as factors responsible for taint in boar meat.

Age Factors↗