Short-term toxicity of cyclohexylamine hydrochloride in the rat

Groups of 15 male and 15 female rats were given diets containing 0 (control), 600, 2000 or 6000 ppm cyclohexylamine hydrochloride (CHA) for 13 wk. No changes in the haematological examinations, serum analyses or urinary cell excretion values were associated with CHA treatment. At the two higher dosage levels there was a reduced rate of body-weight gain and food intake. Paired feeding showed that the reduced food intake did not fully account for the failure to gain weight. The absorption of nutrients was normal but measurements of oxygen consumption suggested that an increased basal metabolic rate might account, in part, for the failure to gain weight. The renal concentrating ability was slightly reduced in the females given the highest dietary concentration of CHA. The weights of most of the organs were lower in the rats given diets containing 2000 or 6000 pp, CHA but this was related to the reduced body weight. The testis weight and relative testis weight were reduced and histopathological examination showed reduced spermatogenesis. However, the rats remained fertile and there was no evidence of abnormalities in their off-spring. A part from the effects on the testis, no changes were seen in the histopathological examination. The no-untoward-effect level established in this study was 600 ppm, a level equivalent to an intake of approximately 30 mg CHA/kg/day.