What is "androstenone"

n. (context biochemistry English) A steroid found in human sweat; reported to be a pheromone

Androstenone (5α-androst-16-en-3-one) is a steroid like pheromone found in both male and female sweat and urine. It is also found in boar's saliva, and in celery cytoplasm. Androstenone was the first mammalian pheromone to be identified. It is found in high concentrations in the saliva of male pigs, and, when inhaled by a female pig that is in heat, results in the female assuming the mating stance. Androstenone is the active ingredient in 'Boarmate', a commercial product made by DuPont sold to pig farmers to test sows for timing of artificial insemination.