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HISTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF HYDROXYSTEROID DEHYDROGENASES IN THE MAXILLARY GLANDS OF PIGS

The maxillary salivary gland of the boar is known (Patterson, 1968) to be rich in androstenol (3-hydroxy-5-androst-16-ene) and to be capable of converting pregnenolone to 3β-hydroxyandrosta-5,16-diene (Katkov & Gower, 1969). In addition, it has been suggested by Patterson (1968) that the maxillary gland may be a site of origin of androstenone (5-androst-16-ene-3-one), but this compound is also present in testicular venous plasma (Gower, Harrison & Heap, 1970). Androstenone has pheromonal properties in the pig (Melrose, Reed & Patterson, 1971) and is apparently released during the profuse salivation which occurs in the male at the time of copulation. In an attempt to elucidate the site and nature of steroid metabolism in the maxillary gland, its hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases were studied histochemically. Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases acting at the 11β position have already been reported in the ducts of porcine salivary glands (Ferguson, Glen