Aparna Dixit and her research group for their help in flow cytometry data analysis. We are also thankful to Advance Instrumentation Facility (AIRF), JNU, New Delhi for various analytical

instruments used in this work. “
“Kerosene is a distillate of crude petroleum that contains aliphatic, aromatic and a variety of other branched saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons [1]. The use of crude kerosene has been a common practice in east Africa and other countries for many years, with the belief of it reducing the sex drive (libido) at the pubertal stage. In the course of daily meals consumption students are exposed to doses of kerosene as a dietary supplement, usually without Avasimibe ic50 their consent. The process of puberty results in the release of some specific hormones which are primarily responsible for the development of secondary sex characteristics and for the emergence of reproductive capabilities in boys [2]. During this stage an increase in testosterone causes an increase in the sex drive (libido), enlargement of the reproductive organs such as the penis and testes, the production of sperm, increase of muscle mass and lowering of the voice, increased frequency of erection, and the growth of facial, chest, nipple and pubic hair among boys[3]. The link between Testosterone

(T) levels and the sexual drive was demonstrated in a study done using adolescent boys with the findings indicating that the adolescent boys who had higher levels T levels www.selleckchem.com/products/abt-199.html also reported higher levels of sexual activity (i.e., coitus) [4], [5], [6] and [7]. From the studies by Brooks-Gun and Halpern [5] and [6] it can be inferred that hormones may enhance feelings of sexual old arousal in adolescents but how they act on those feelings is very much determined by multiple internal and external variables. From the

study conducted by Olweus et al. [4] and [8] it was noted that adolescent boys with higher T levels were more likely to engage in aggressive behavior. Under conditions of threat or unfair treatment, [9] they were shown to be aggressive. They further showed a link between higher T level and a lower tolerance for frustration. Further to these, they also observed that when no provoking situation occurred, T levels did not predict aggression. Various animal studies conducted on mice demonstrated the link between aggressive behavior and increased T levels [10] and [11]. In a study on mice exposed to jet kerosene continuously for 90 days, there was an observed increased incidence in the fighting of the test group mice [12]. There is increasing trend regarding the percentage of teenagers reporting sexual initiation at younger ages [13]. This early sexual initiation (before age 16) is likely to involve sexual risk-taking and expose young people to unwanted sex, sexually transmitted infections, and teenage pregnancy. This may be attributed to exposure to a highly sexualized media environment that may represent a primary source of sexual socialization[14] and [15].