Skatole metabolism in the intact pre-pubescent male pig: The relationship between hepatic enzyme activity and skatole concentrations in plasma and fat

The objective of this study was to evaluate, in the pre-pubescent intact male pig, the relationship between skatole levels and the activity of hepatic cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1), cytochrome P4502A (CYP2A), aldehyde oxidase (AO), and phenol sulfotransferase 1A1 (SULT1A1). The activity of these enzymes has been positively associated with skatole clearance in mature boars. Twenty-four intact male pigs were weaned at 28 days of age and slaughtered 2 weeks postweaning, at which time caecal contents, blood, fat, and liver samples were collected. Caecal contents and fat were analyzed for skatole concentrations, and plasma was analyzed for skatole and steroid hormone (testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS), estrone sulphate (E1S)) concentrations. CYP2A, CYP2E1, and AO, as well as SULT1A1 activities were evaluated in liver samples. Stepwise regression was utilized considering plasma or fat skatole concentration as the dependent variables and hormone concentrations and enzyme activities as independent variables. The activities of the enzymes CYP2A, CYP2E1, and AO and concentrations of the hormones T, DHEAS, or E1S were not correlated with concentrations of skatole in plasma or fat. However, SULT1A1 activity was negatively correlated with plasma (r = − 0.70, P < 0.05) and backfat (r = − 0.41, P < 0.05) skatole concentrations. Furthermore, this correlation was improved in plasma (r = − 0.88, P < 0.05) and fat (r = − 0.63, P < 0.05) when the concentrations of skatole in caecal contents was included as an independent variable in the multiple regression analysis, demonstrating the importance of measuring skatole production in these studies. T, DHEAS, and E1S concentrations in plasma were not correlated with the activity of any of the enzymes evaluated. This study suggests that SULT1A1 is important in the metabolism of skatole in pre-pubescent pigs and the overall metabolism of skatole in the pre-pubescent pig differs from that in the mature boar.