Androgens and their metabolites in faeces of non-pregnant and pregnant cows and sows

The gonads, the adrenals and in many mammal species also the placenta produce steroid hormones. The production and function of gestagens and oestrogens are well documented but less is known about androgens in females, where they are often considered as mere precursors of oestrogens. We believe that substantial amounts of various androgens of placental origin may be present in the faeces. To test this notion, we evaluated and characterized faecal androgens/metabolites in sows and cows during oestrus and at different stages of pregnancy. We took faecal samples from eight sows and six cows on the day of oestrus and 16 days later as well as from eight pregnant sows on day 110 of gestation, from ten cows on day 150 of gestation and from eight cows on day 240 of gestation. We used enzyme immunoassays to measure the concentrations of aetiocholanolone (Et) and epiandrosterone (Ep) as representatives of the 5 beta-and 5 alpha-17-oxoandrostanes and of testosterone (T) and 5 beta-dihydrotestosterone