The stathmokinetic method in vivo. Time-response with special reference to circadian variations in epidermal cell proliferation in the hairless mouse.

Groups of hairless mice were injected i.p. with a stathmokinetic dose of 0.15 mg colcemid at seven different times of the day and animals killed 0, 15 and 30 min, 1, 2, 3 and 4 hr after the injection. The proportion of cells in metaphase and ana/telophase was determined in histological sections. The results showed a transient accumulation of metaphases about 30 min after the injection, followed by an increase in metaphases from 1 to 4 hr. Therefore, no value before 1 hr after the colcemid injection should be used in calculations of the mitotic rate. The presence of circadian rhythms with high mitotic activity in the morning and low activity in the evening was confirmed. It is shown by regression analyses that the accumulation period of 4 hr is sufficiently short to reflect circadian variations in epidermal cell proliferation and that the 4-hr accumulation value alone is sufficient to estimate the mitotic rate.