Androgen signalling and vascular reactivity of boys
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Androgen signalling and vascular reactivity of boys with hypogonadism (VRASGOW pilot)
IRAS ID
211058
Contact name
Angela Lucas-Herald
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
The biochemical definition of hypogonadism is simply a low circulating testosterone concentration (Morley et al., 2006). However, its clinical manifestations are very wide and other than altered sexual development and fertility, they include decreased energy, motivation, initiative, and self-confidence, poor concentration and memory, altered sleep, mild anaemia, reduced muscle bulk and strength, osteoporosis and diminished physical or work performance (Zitzmann et al., 2006). In men, hypogonadism also has an adverse effect on several cardiovascular risk factors (Makhsida et al., 2006). Gender differences in cardiovascular risk suggest that sex hormones may contribute significantly to cardiac function (Vutthasathien and Wattanapermpool, 2015) with males with cardiovascular disease tending to have low testosterone levels (Corona et al., 2011). Although hypogonadism can be a transient physiological phenomenon during adolescence, it is also one of the commonest permanent endocrine conditions in childhood that requires active management throughout adulthood (Bertelloni et al., 2010). To date however little is known regarding the cardiovascular effects of hypogonadism in boys. The Fetal Origins of Adult Disease (FOAD) hypothesis postulates that early life influences predict adult cardiovascular disease (Skogen et al., 2014). Cardiovascular diseases remain the commonest causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early identification of potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease allows for the introduction of prevention and early intervention strategies to mitigate this risk.
Given the known association between low testosterone levels and increased cardiometabolic risk in adult men, there is a need to study this relationship in children with early onset hypogonadism. This study will therefore involve taking excess tissue and blood from boys undergoing genital surgery at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow. Laboratory experiments will then be conducted on this excess tissue to determine whether there is any evidence of altered vascular function in those with hypogonadism compared to those without.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
16/WS/0186
Date of REC Opinion
26 Oct 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion