In vitro epidermal cell proliferation in rat skin plugs.

Full-thickness skin plugs from immature and adult rats have been shown to incorporate -3H-thymidine in vitro in a semisynchronous fashion for up to 54 hr. DNA synthesis is minimal at 16 hr post sacrifice but increases again at 24 and 48 hr, and cells in S phase at 48 hr have passed through at least one mitosis in vitro (between 32 and 39 hr). Advantage can be taken of this semisynchronous burst of DNA synthetic activity to test the effects of potential inhibitors of skin cell proliferation, and to determine at which phase of the cell cyclic these inhibitors act. High concentrations of epinephrine or isoproterenol (10--5 M) are required to cause inhibition but the effect is specific for the G2 phase of the cell cycle. Propranolol does not demonstrate beta-antagonism in this system, since it is a very potent inhibitor acting in G1 phase. Dibutyryl cycle AMP and theophylline have two effects: one is a specific inhibitory action on cells in the G2 phase and the second is a short-term action limiting thymidine uptake by cells in S phase without affecting the transition of cells from G1 to S.