Effect of urethane (ethyl carbamate) on the mitosis of phytohaemagglutinin stimulated human lymphocytesin vitro.

The action of urethane at concentrations between 10-1 and 10-8 M on the rate of mitosis of phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated human lymphocytes in culture has been investigated. At 10-1M urethane is cytotoxic, at all other concentrations tested it has some inhibitory activity except at 10-5M and 10-6M where it stimulates mitosis. These results are discussed in relation to previously reported data and compared with the action of hydroxyurea in the same system.