Myocardial effects of calcium cyclamate in the BIO F1D Alexander Syrian golden hamster.

ABSTRACT

In a subchronic 90-day oral toxicity study, 5 groups (20 males, 20 females each) of F2-descendants of BIO F1D Alexander hamsters received 0, 275, 550, 1,100 and 2,200 mg/kg b.w./day doses, respectively, of calcium cyclamate in the drinking water. These doses caused no adverse health effects in any treated animal and the multifocal myocardial calcifications, detectable at a 100% incidence in the male and female control hamsters (20 males, 20 females), were not exacerbated by the sweetener. Instead, the myocardial lesions exhibited a striking negative dose-response relationship with a 0% incidence in the males and a 5% incidence in the female hamsters of the highest dose group.