OCCURRENCE OF 5α-ANDROST-16-EN-3-ONE, A BOAR PHEROMONE, IN MAN AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO TESTOSTERONE

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Abstract
The ratio of 5.alpha.-androst-16-en-3-one to testosterone (1:1.36) in human peripheral plasma is similar to that found in most boars. 5.alpha.-androst-16-en-3-one was not found in the plasma of the 3 women investigated, who also possessed low testosterone concentrations (average: 0.28 ng/ml). Although the coefficient of variation of both steroid concentrations was low in the blood of men, a high coefficient of variation existed in sweat. This cannot be explained by the amount of sweat produced during the collection time. The excretion of 5.alpha.-androst-16-en-3-one was approximately 10x higher that that of testosterone. As in boars, storage of 5.alpha.-androst-16-en-3-one seems to occur in the fatty tissue of men, the average content being 103 ng/g fat. In samples taken from 3 women only 10, 20 and 30 ng/g fat were found. The physiological function of 5.alpha.-androst-16-en-3-one in men is unknown but is perhaps pheromonal.

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