Testicular effects of cyclohexylamine hydrochloride in the rat

Testicular effects of cyclohexylamine hydrochloride (CHA) were investigated in Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats. Groups of 25 rats were fed diets containing 6000, 2000 and 600 ppm CHA for 90 days and in addition ad lib., pair-fed and paired-weight control groups were used to assess the role of reduced food intake in the development of testicular lesions. Rats fed diets containing 6000 and 2000 ppm CHA showed significant decreases in food consumption, body weight and body weight gain. However, significant increases in the incidence of testicular lesions were found only in those animals fed 6000 ppm CHA. Absence of a similar incidence of lesions in either the paired-weight of pair-fed control groups indicated that inanition was not primarily responsible for the development of the lesions. The toxicological significane of these findings is discussed.