S. Abinaya et al RJLBPCS 2018 www.rjlbpcs.com Life Science Informatics Publications © 2018 Life Science Informatics Publication All rights reserved Peer review under responsibility of Life Science Informatics Publications 2018 Nov – Dec RJLBPCS 4(6) Page No.507 Original Research Article DOI: 10.26479/2018.0406.38 ESTROUS CYCLE DISRUPTION IN RATS BY FLUORANTHENE Subramanian Abinaya 1 , Soundararajan Kamalakannan 2 , Durairaj Siva 1 , Kuppusamy Indhumathi 1 , Dharmaraj Praveenkumar 1 , Arumugam Vinothkumar 1 , Shanmugam Achiraman 1* 1. Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India. 2. P.G and Research Department of Zoology, Bishop Heber College, Tiruchirappalli, India. ABSTRACT: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic compounds containing prominent benzene rings in them. They are commonly found pollutants in the atmosphere. Many of them are known to be carcinogenic or teratogenic in nature. Fluoranthene (FLA) is one among the 16 priority PAHs listed by the US EPA. It is the most abundant PAH found in vehicle exhaust and often generated as a product of incomplete combustion, burning of woods and cooking at high temperatures. The toxicity of PAHs has been checked in aquatic organisms and less explored in other organisms. Humans are exposed to PAHs on daily basis, both indoors and outdoors. The toxicity assessment in rats may help to corroborate their effect in humans. Particularly the reproductive toxicity of FLA is not yet reported. This study was designed to study the effect of FLA in disrupting the regular estrous cycle (reproductive cycle) in rats. The results revealed a significant reduction in the number of normal cycles in FLA administered rats compared to that of intact. The oxidative stress imposed in the ovary and uterus by FLA administration was confirmed through histological examination. This study makes it clear that FLA has a significant influence on the reproductive organs thereby affecting the estrous cycle. KEYWORDS: PAHs, Fluoranthene, Toxicity, Pollutants and Estrous cycle. Corresponding Author: Dr. Shanmugam Achiraman* Ph.D. Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India. Email Address: achiramans@gmail.com 1. INTRODUCTION Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous organic pollutants that are commonly generated by anthropogenic activities involving combustion apart from natural sources like volcanic eruption and forest fires [1] [2] and [3]. PAHs are known to possess toxicity and they are often