Total disappearance of cell proliferation in the lens of a hypophysectomized animal: in vivo and in vitro maintenance of inhibition with reversal by pituitary factors.

Cell cycle kinetics of lens epithelium were studied in frogs following hypophysectomy, and subsequent replacement therapy with bovine growth hormone (bGH). Hypophysectomy led to a complete absence of cells in DNA synthesis and mitosis within 4 weeks. A small number of G2 nuclei was present in all preparations, but the number was much reduced with time after surgery. Occasional preparations with a significant G2 population were encountered. The major block to cycle traverse appeared to be in the G0-G1 segment. Mechanical injury to the lenses of hypophysectomized animals caused the cells to move closer to S without, however, reaching it. The in vivo block to cycle traverse persisted in organ-cultured lenses maintained in medium containing serum of hypophysectomized animals. The block to cycle traverse was reversed when the lenses were cultured in medium containing the serum of hypophysectomized animals that received replacement therapy with bGH. The serum became effective between 1 and 2 days after the star of replacement therapy. The lens epithelial cells from hypophysectomized frogs incur a deficit such that a protracted prereplicative phase is detected when favourable growth conditions are restored.