Short-term toxicity of 2,6-dimethylhept-5-en-1-al in rats

Groups of 15 male and 15 female rats were fed for at least 90 days on diets that provided 2,6-dimethylhept-5-en-1-al (DMH) at average intakes of 0 (control), 9, 37 and 150 mg/kg body weight/day. Steps were taken to limit loss of DMH during diet mixing, storage and feeding. No effects attributable to treatment were encountered in body weight, food intake, water intake, haematology (at wk 6 and 13) or the gross and microscopic pathological examinations. At the highest dose level there was a slight reduction in renal concentrating ability at wk 6 in males and wk 14 in females, together with a small increase in relative kidney weight and liver weight in females. The serum-glucose concentrations of both sexes on the highest dose were elevated compared with the controls. It was concluded that the intermediate dose, providing an intake of 37 mg/kg/day, was the no-untoward-effect level.