Gingival hyperplasia in rats induced by oxodipine--a calcium channel blocker.

Oxodipine, a new calcium channel blocker, induced gingival hyperplasia in rats. This is the first time that a calcium channel blocker has been documented as resulting in gingival hyperplasia in rats. In contrast to diphenylhydantoin, the hyperplastic changes induced by oxodipine were not precipitated by any prior irritation. The histology consisted of purely fibroblastic proliferation without infiltrate of inflammatory cells.