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Production of volatile amines and skatole at anthesis in some arum lily species.

The odoriferous compounds produced at the time of flowering by the inflorescences of 5 arum lily species were condensed in dry ice traps. The components of the condensates were separated by paper chromatography and identified on the basis of position and color reactions in comparison with known compounds. The concentration of free amino acids in the appendix of Sauromatum guttatum Schott increased 20-fold during flowering.

Journal Article↗

Breed differences in boar taint: relationship between tissue levels boar taint compounds and sensory analysis of taint.

A total of 228 intact male pigs form Duroc, Hampshire, Landrace, and Yorkshire breeds were used in the experiment. Samples of salivary gland and backfat were collected at slaughter for colorimetric assay of salivary and fat 16-androstene levels and fat skatole levels. Fat levels also were tested by a sensory panel using an R-index technique for detecting the presence of boar taint. The proportion of tainted carcasses determined by the sensory panel was 5.0% for androstenone and 11.4% for skatole, with a combined total of 15.0% tainted from either source. Sensory analysis of taint showed a lower proportion (P < .05) of tainted carcasses in Hampshire, with no difference in taint across the other three breeds. Analysis of taint compounds indicated that overall 14.5% of pigs had salivary gland 16-androstene levels and 20.9% had fat 16-androstene levels above acceptable limits. There was a higher (P < .05) proportion of Duroc pigs above the threshold levels for 16-androstenes in both salivary gland and fat. Landrace pigs had the lowest (P < .05) average tissue concentrations of steroids and skatole. Across breeds, only 1.8% of pigs had fat skatole concentrations above .25 ppm, which has been suggested as threshold levels of skatole for taint. The canonical correlation coefficient between fat compound levels and the R-indices of fat 16-androstenes and skatole was .40 (P < .001). Our results indicate breed differences in tissue levels of taint compounds and in taint assessed by a sensory panel. Levels of 16-androstene steroids were highly associated with taint, but more pigs had measured levels above the threshold than those identified as tainted by sensory analysis. Levels of fat skatole were low overall and did not account for all the pigs judged as tainted from skatole by sensory analysis.

Androstenes↗

Molecular cloning and functional analysis of porcine SULT1A1 gene and its variant: a single mutation SULT1A1 causes a significant decrease in sulfation activity.

The characterization of the SULT1A1 gene and its variants should have an important impact on the efforts to develop genetic markers to select for low skatole in pigs. Raising intact male pigs would have a significant economic impact on the pork industry; however, the presence of skatole (a major cause of boar taint) in meat from male pigs would be highly objectionable to consumers. It has been shown that the phase II metabolism of skatole metabolites by phenol sulfotransferase is related to the clearance of skatole in the liver. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize the SULT1A1 gene from pig liver, examine its expression, identify genetic polymorphisms, and study how a genetic variation in this enzyme translates into interindividual variation in skatole levels. We show here that a substitution of A-->G at base 546 of SULT1A1 causes a significant decrease in its sulfation activity and thus may be at least partially responsible for a higher level of skatole in pigs. Our findings provide an important basis toward the goal of making it possible to predict the sulfation status in pigs and the development of genetic markers for low skatole.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Dissimilation of tryptophan and related indolic compounds by ruminal microorganisms in vitro.

Intraruminal doses of L-tryptophan cause acute pulmonary edema and emphysema in cattle. The D and L isomers of tryptophan and 22 related indolic compounds were incubated with ruminal microorganisms in vitro. Incubation of L-[U-benzene ring-(14)C]tryptophan with ruminal microorganisms for 24 h resulted in 39% of the added radioactivity being incorporated into skatole, 7% into indole, and 4% into indoleacetate (IAA). D-Tryptophan was not degraded to any of these metabolites. The major pathway of skatole formation from L-tryptophan appeared to be by the decarboxylation of IAA. Incubation of [2-(14)C]IAA with ruminal microorganisms for 24 h resulted in 38% incorporation into skatole. L-[5-Hydroxy]tryptophan was degraded to 5-hydroxyskatole and 5-hydroxyindole, whereas 5-hydroxyindoleacetate was degraded to only 5-hydroxyskatole. Incubation of indolepyruvate, indolelactate, and indolealdehyde with ruminal microorganisms resulted in the formation of both skatole and indole. Under similar conditions, indoleacetaldehyde was converted to IAA and tryptophol. The addition of increasing concentrations of glucose (0 to 110 mM) reduced the formation of both skatole and indole from L-tryptophan and resulted in the accumulation of IAA. Antibiotics reduced the degradation of L-tryptophan to skatole and indole, with kanamycin and neomycin particularly effective in reducing the decarboxylation of IAA to skatole.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗

Social effects and boar taint: significance for production of slaughter boars (Sus scrofa).

A study was conducted to elucidate the effects of social factors on the concentrations of boar taint substances, androstenone and skatole, in boars. The factors included dominance (social rank) and the effects of strongly tainted animals on other members of the group. Four successive replicates of 100 pigs (50 boars + 50 gilts) with an average live weight of 24 kg were randomly allocated to 10 pens of 10. Data for this study were collected during the period of 67 to 114 kg of live weight and included the repetitive recording of agonistic behavior during competitive feeding; blood sampling for determination of plasma androstenone, skatole and testosterone in boars; feces sampling for determination of skatole content; and collection of bulbourethral glands in boars, and uteri plus ovaries in gilts at slaughter, for the assessment of sexual maturity. Results show an influence of social rank on plasma concentrations of androstenone (P = .0001) and testosterone (P = .0001), the weight of the bulbourethral glands (P = .0001), and plasma skatole (P = .02). Pens were classified according to the pig with the highest concentration of androstenone in the pen into high, medium, and low maximum pens. In pens with high maximum concentrations of androstenone, the second-highest androstenone concentration (P = .0001), and the average concentration (P = .0003) in the pen were higher than those in pens with medium or low maximum concentrations of androstenone. Mean aggression level was also higher (P = .02), but pens with high maximum aggression level did not have higher mean androstenone concentration. Rank effect on androstenone was more important than aggression effect. Neither maximum androstenone concentration nor maximum aggression level in a pen was related to the pen mean stage of sexual maturity in either sex. No influences of rank, aggression, or aggression received were found on the feces skatole level, and no pheromonal communicative function was demonstrated for skatole. High androstenone concentrations did not have a suppressive effect on androstenone concentrations in other males of the group; on the contrary, the levels were increased. This may be due to a stimulating effect of androstenone and, possibly, mating activity. Consequently, in the production of boars for slaughter, strongly tainted animals should be avoided or removed and mating activity minimized. This could be facilitated by, for instance, slaughtering before sexual maturity or separate rearing of the sexes.

Abattoirs↗

Molecular cloning, expression and functional characterization of the cytochrome P450 2A6 gene in pig liver.

Raising intact male pigs would have a significant economic impact on the pork industry because intact males have improved feed efficiency and a greater lean yield of the carcass compared with barrows. However, the presence of skatole, a major cause of boar taint, in meat from intact male pigs could be highly objectionable to consumers. It has been shown that CYP2A6 is a key enzyme in the hepatic metabolism of skatole and that the activity of CYP2A6 is negatively correlated with skatole accumulation in fat. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize CYP2A6 from pig liver, as well as identify genetic polymorphisms in the CYP2A6 gene, and examine the association between these polymorphisms and skatole level. We identified a single base deletion in CYP2A6, resulting in a frame shift in the coding region that produces a non-functional enzyme, which was associated with high levels of skatole in fat tissue.

Adipose Tissue↗

Boar taint is related to endocrine and anatomical changes at puberty but not to aggressive behaviour in entire male pigs.

This study aimed to describe the association between incidence of boar taint and pubertal changes in gonadal hormones, size of reproductive organs and aggressive behaviour in entire male pigs. In total, 111 entire male pigs were included in the study. Sampling was performed first at 90 kg live weight (LW) and, then, at 115 kg LW. Variables measured were skatole and androstenone levels in plasma and fat, testosterone and oestrone sulphate in plasma, free oestrone in fat, weight of testes and length of bulbourethral glands. Aggressive interactions between pigs were registered when a limited amount of feed was provided to the pigs prior to routine feeding. The number of initiated interactions (attacks) and the difference between number of initiated and received interactions (relative attacks) were calculated for each pig. Multivariate analysis revealed that gonadal hormones and reproductive organ size influenced prevalence of boar taint, accounting for 30% of the variation in skatole levels in fat and for 37% of the variation in androstenone levels in fat. These relations were independent of aggression levels in entire male pigs. Skatole levels were influenced by the levels of oestrone sulphate in plasma and free oestrone in fat, but not levels of plasma testosterone. Pigs with testes weight below 565 g and a bulbourethral gland length <90 mm did not produce high amounts of skatole; therefore, these values can be used as a threshold level to detect pig carcasses with low skatole levels. High androstenone levels could not be predicted by measuring reproductive organ sizes. More research is required to develop a rapid and accurate method for the analysis of carcasses of entire male pigs.

Adipose Tissue↗

The lobster carapace carotenoprotein, alpha-crustacyanin. A possible role for tryptophan in the bathochromic spectral shift of protein-bound astaxanthin.

Crustacyanin, cross-linked with dimethyl pimelimidate to stabilize the protein against denaturation, was used to test the effects of tryptophan modification with BNPS-skatole [3-bromo-3-methyl-2-(nitrophenylmercaptol)-3H-indole] on the ability of the apoprotein to recombine with astaxanthin. The cross-linked apoprotein re-forms alpha-crustacyanin with astaxanthin in reasonable yield following incubation of the protein under the conditions for tryptophan modification in the absence of BNPS-skatole. The BNPS-skatole-treated protein reconstitutes with astaxanthin to give a carotenoprotein with lambda max. at 472 nm, that of the carotenoid in hexane, in a yield similar to that of the BNPS-skatole-untreated control. The implied involvement of tryptophan residues at the sites of astaxanthin attachment in crustacyanin and their possible roles in the binding sites of vitamin A in vitamin A-proteins are discussed in relation to the bathochromic spectral shifts of the chromophores.

Animals↗

Sensory characteristics and carcass traits of boars, barrows, and gilts fed high- or adequate-protein diets and slaughtered at 100 or 110 kilograms.

The objective of this study was to determine consumer reaction to boar (BO), barrow (BA), and gilt (G) meat from pigs grown and finished on high- (HI) and low- (LO) protein diets and slaughtered at 100 and 110 kg BW. Within each of two trials, 54 BO, BA, and G were allotted within sexes to HI or LO protein sequences for growing and finishing: 19 and 17% (BOHI), 18 and 16% (BOLO), 17 and 15% (GHI), 16 and 14% (GLO), 15 and 13% (BAHI), and 14 and 12% (BALO). Backfat skatole and salivary gland 16-androstene concentrations were measured from samples taken at slaughter. Longissimus (LM) and semitendinosus (ST) chops from 24 pigs (with equal representation across diet and sex groups) were evaluated by trained panelists for tenderness, juiciness, and off-flavor. Consumer panelists evaluated acceptability of LM chops. In the 100-kg trial, HI diets improved (P < .05) carcass leanness in BO and BA but not in G. In both trials, BO were leaner (P < .05) than G, and both were leaner (P < .05) than BA. Skatole and 16-androstene concentrations were similar (P > .05) among sexes in both trials. In the 100-kg trial, trained panelists found BOLO chops had more (P < .05) off-flavor. In the 110-kg trial, all BO had more off-flavor (P < .05) than BAHI, BALO, and GHI but were similar (P > .05) to GLO. In both trials, BA chops were more tender (P < .05) than G and BO chops and LM chops had less off-flavor (P < .05) than ST chops. In the 110-kg trial, skatole was correlated (r = .28, P < .001) to off-flavor. A relationship may exist among diet, skatole deposition, and off-flavor. Untrained consumers reported all chops were equally acceptable (P > .05).

Androstenes↗

Vaccination of boars with a GnRH vaccine (Improvac) eliminates boar taint and increases growth performance.

Peri- and postpubertal boars accumulate substances (e.g., androstenone and skatole) in their fatty tissue that are responsible for boar taint in pork. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of a GnRH vaccine, Improvac, in eliminating boar taint. Three hundred male (200 intact boars, 100 barrows) crossbred (Large White x Landrace) pigs were used in a 2 x 3 factorially arranged experiment. The respective factors were sex group (barrows, boars treated with placebo, or boars treated with Improvac) and slaughter age (23 or 26 wk). Vaccines were administered 8 and 4 wk before slaughter. All Improvac-treated pigs exhibited anti-GnRH titers. Testes and bulbo-urethral gland weights in treated pigs were reduced by approximately 50% (P < 0.001) and serum testosterone levels were below 2 ng/mL in the majority of treated boars (94 and 92% across both age groups at 2 and 4 wk, respectively). Boar taint, as assessed by the concentration of androstenone and skatole in s.c. fat, was suppressed to low or undetectable levels in 100% of Improvac-treated boars. No Improvac-treated pigs had significant concentrations of either androstenone (> 1.0 microg/g) or skatole (> 0.20 microg/g). In contrast, 49.5% of placebo-treated controls had significant androstenone and 10.8% had significant skatole levels, resulting in 10% of the control boars with high concentrations of both compounds. The mean concentrations of taint compounds in the Improvac-treated pigs were not significantly different from those in barrows. Improvac-treated boars grew more rapidly (P = 0.051 and < 0.001 for pigs slaughtered at 23 and 26 wk of age, respectively) than control boars over the 4 wk after the secondary vaccination, possibly because of reduced sexual and aggressive activities. Compared with barrows, Improvac-treated boars were leaner and had superior feed conversion efficiency. The vaccine was well tolerated by the pigs, and no observable site reactions could be detected at the time of slaughter. Vaccination of boars with Improvac allows production of heavy boars with improved meat quality through prevention and control of boar taint.

Adipose Tissue↗

Bayesian analysis of quantitative trait loci for boar taint in a Landrace outbred population.

The genetic basis of the main components of boar taint was investigated in intact male pigs in a commercial population. We analyzed fat androsten-one and skatole concentrations from 217 males of an outbred Landrace population. Records were normalized using a logarithm transformation and tested for normality using a Wilk-Shapiro test. Bayesian analysis was then used to map QTL in 10 candidate regions previously selected on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 13. The criterion for QTL detection was the Bayes factor (BF) between polygenic models with and without QTL effects. Both traits had considerable genetic determination, with posterior means of total heritabilities ranging from 0.59 to 0.73 for androstenone and from 0.74 to 0.89 for skatole. Positive evidence for a fat skatole QTL was detected on SSC6 (BF = 5.16); however, no QTL for androstenone were found in any of the 10 chromosomal regions analyzed. With the detection of a QTL for the fat skatole concentration segregating in this population, marker-assisted selection or even gene-assisted selection could be used once the causal mutation of the QTL was identified.

Adipose Tissue↗

Degradation of tryptophan and related indolic compounds by ruminal bacteria, protozoa and their mixture in vitro.

In vitro experiments were conducted to examine the degradation of d- and l-isomers of tryptophan (Trp) and 10 related indolic compounds by mixed rumen bacteria (B), protozoa (P) and a combination of the two (BP). The analyses were carried out by HPLC. d-Trp (1.0 mM) was not degraded by rumen microorganisms during the 24-h incubation period. The net degradation of 1 mM l-Trp was 46.5%, 8.7% and 80.0% by B, P and BP suspensions, respectively. Trp was degraded into indoleacetic acid, indolelactic acid and indole by rumen bacteria and protozoa, and into skatole, p-cresol and indolepropionic acid by rumen bacteria only. Of them, indoleacetic acid was the major product of Trp found in B (15.4%) and P (3.1%), and skatole in BP (43.2%). This is the first report of the production of indolelactic acid and p-cresol from Trp by rumen microbes. Starch, d-glucose, salinomycin and monensin inhibited the production of skatole and indole from Trp, and skatole from indoleacetic acid by rumen bacteria.

Animals↗

Prooxidant activity and cytotoxic effects of indole-3-acetic acid derivative radicals.

Previously, it was shown that indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is a nontoxic prodrug that forms a radical, toxic to tumor cells when activated by peroxidase. Because of this, IAA and peroxidase conjugated to an antibody specific to an extracelluar tumor antigen are currently in phase II clinical trials. In the following, the prooxidant activities of the radicals formed were compared when IAA or its derivatives were metabolically oxidized by peroxidase/H(2)O(2). In general, it was found that the effectiveness of IAA analogues for catalyzing the cooxidation of ascorbate, NADH, or GSH increased as the IAA derivatives were more readily oxidized by HRP/H(2)O(2). The order of effectiveness of IAA derivatives at cooxidizing NADH, ascorbate, GSH, and hepatocyte GSH was 5MeO-2Me-IAA > 2Me-IAA > 5MeO-IAA > IAA. The rates of NADH and ascorbate cooxidation were faster at pH 7.4 than at pH 6.0, whereas GSH cooxidation was faster at pH 6.0 than at pH 7.4. Furthermore, NADH, ascorbate, and GSH prevented the oxidation of IAA derivatives, which suggested that the indolyl cation radical was responsible for the prooxidant activity. The effectiveness of IAA derivatives in catalyzing lipid peroxidation at pH 7.4 was similar and also correlated with the rate of oxidation of IAA derivatives by HRP-I and the one-electron potential of these compounds. The IAA derivative-induced lipid peroxidation was faster at pH 6.0 than at pH 7.4. IAA derivative effectiveness at catalyzing microsomal and hepatocyte lipid peroxidation or hepatocyte reactive oxygen species formation at pH 6.0 was IAA > 5MeO-2Me-IAA > 2Me-IAA > 5MeO-IAA, but at pH 7.4, it was 5MeO-2Me-IAA > 2Me-IAA > 5MeO-IAA > IAA. Previously, the rate of radical cation decarboxylation to skatole radicals and (skatole) peroxyl radicals was reported to be faster at an acid pH with IAA being more effective than the derivatives. This suggests that IAA skatole and/or (skatole) peroxyl radicals catalyze lipid peroxidation at pH 6.0. Incubation of isolated rat hepatocytes with IAA analogues/H(2)O(2)/peroxidase also resulted in cytotoxicity with 5MeO-2Me-IAA being the most effective at pH 7.4 and IAA being the most effective at pH 6.0. Cytotoxicity was also prevented by antioxidants.

Animals↗

Changes in the Activities of Pyrrolooxygenases during the Germination of Wheat Grains.

Porphobilinogen oxygenase, skatole pyrrolooxygenase, and tryptophan pyrrolooxygenase were found in the different parts of germinating wheat (Triticum aestivum) grain seedlings. In the embryos of grains germinated for 24 hours, the activities of PBG oxygenase and skatole pyrrolooxygenase were inhibited by a labile inhibitor. Tryptophan pyrrolooxygenase activity was not inhibited. Embryos of grains germinated for 48 hours showed higher activities for the three enzymes. The latter were also present in the radicles and coleoptiles of 96-hour germinated wheat grains. A DEAE-cellulose analysis of a crude enzymic preparation from embryos allowed the separation of two molecular forms of the three pyrrolooxygenases. The more cationic forms of porphobilinogen oxygenase and skatole pyrrolooxygenase were associated with the inhibitor. This form of porphobilinogen oxygenase had allosteric kinetics while the more anionic form had Michaelis kinetics. Both forms of skatole pyrrolooxygenase had Michaelis kinetics. The activity of tryptophan pyrrolooxygenase was highest in seedling roots and was found to be inhibited in seedling young leaves. This enzyme oxidized tryptophanyl dipeptides, as well as a nonapeptide, to N-formylkynurenine-containing peptides. The pyrrolooxygenase also oxidized the tryptophanyl residues of lysozyme, chymotrypsin, and trypsin.

Journal Article↗