Oxidative balance disorders as a factor of formation and progression of hypoandrogenism in boys
Authors: Volkova Yu.V. , Sharun K.V. , Sukhova L.L. , Kosovtsova H.V. , Turchina S.I. , Kashkalda D.A. 
Published: July 2022

Objective — to study the features of the state of oxidative balance (processes of free radical oxidation and antioxidant protection) in boys with hypoandrogenism (HA).
Materials and methods. Examinations involved 103 adolescent boys agreed 14 to 17 years with the delayed sexual development. Serum levels of total testosterone (TT), conjugated dienes (CD), thiobarbituric acid­reactive substance (TBARS), carbonylated proteins, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity were determined. The coefficient of oxidative stress was calculated.
Results and discussion. The following indicators have been revealed in patients with the delayed sexual development vs the comparison group: increased CD levels in 84.0 % of patients, elevated levels of carbonylated proteins in 53.7 % of adolescents, one third had raised TBARS levels; 63.0 % of patients demonstrated the increased GSH levels. Decreased activity of GPx and CAT was registered in more than half of the patients. Such changes indicate an imbalance in the ratio of free radical oxidation (FRO) and antioxidant protection, which leads to the state of OS in adolescents with delayed puberty.It was found that the redox balance in adolescents with delayed puberty significantly depends on the degree of androgen deficiency. Half of the patients with a degree I and II HA and 24.5 % of boys with degree III HA had elevated TBARS levels, which is more common in adolescents with normative values of TT. At the highest degree of androgen deficiency, the frequency of normative values of carbonylated proteins decreased. Most boys had elevated levels of CD (80 %), regardless of the degree of HA. An increase in SOD activity was found in patients with degree III HA. Low SOD activity was registered in 28.6 % of patients with degree II HA and 29.6 % with degree III HA, which is much less common compared to patients with normal TT levels. Most patients with HA, regardless of degree, were characterized by low GPx activity. Decreased CAT activity was registered in 76.9 % of patients with degree II HA. The majority of patients with HA (from 60.9 to 90 %) showed elevated levels of GSH, regardless of degree. The progression of HA in adolescents is characterized by the accumulation of products of free radical oxidation of lipids and an imbalance in the enzymatic and low molecular parts of the antioxidant system. This is typical for HA II and III degrees. The largest number of correlations was found in patients with degree III HA, testifying the formation of oxidative stress due to the activation of lipid peroxidation with simultaneous tension of the antioxidant defense system.
Conclusions. The progression of HA is accompanied by the accumulation of products of free radical oxidation of lipids with simultaneous depletion of the enzymatic part of the antioxidant defense system. The activating effect of testosterone deficiency on the formation of oxidative stress in adolescents with the highest degree of androgen deficiency has been proven. This makes it possible to assess the state of oxidative balance as a factor in the formation and progression of HA in adolescents.