On the influence of topically applied drugs on cell kinetics in the sebaceous gland. Investigations with the example of selenium disulfide in the Syrian hamster ear.

60 male Syrian hamsters were treated on one ear with 2.5% selenium disulfide in a surfactant base and on the other ear with the same surfactant base. After treatment 15 animals were investigated by 3H-thymidine autoradiography, 15 animals by the colcemid method and 15 animals by the in vivo double labelling technique with 3H- and 14C-thymidine. In 15 animals the porportion of labeled cells was determined which still had contact with the basal lamina in the sebaceous gland 6 days after 3H-thymidine injection. Besides an increase in sebaceous gland size and in cell proliferation, a shortening of the S phase and a reduction of the labeled sebaceous gland cells which still have contact with the basal lamina of the sebaceous gland 6 days after 3H - thymidine injection were determined.