Circadian effect of ACTH 1-17 on mitotic index of the corneal epithelium of BALB/C mice.

The objective was to determine the effect of ACTH 1-17, an adrenocorticotropin analogue, on the mitotic index in the corneal epithelium of mice standardized in 12 hr of light alternating with 12 hr darkness. A question asked was whether the time of administration along the 24-hr time scale influenced any response found. The findings showed that ACTH 1-17 could, depending upon when it was administered, bring about a statistically significant decrease, an increase or even no such change in the mitotic index. The greatest responses found were increases, especially when ACTH 1-17 was administered during the dark span. Also the time after injection when the responses occurred varied. The greatest response recorded was at 12 hr after injection when ACTH 1-17 was given at 2 hr into the dark with a 641% and a 718% increase with a low (0.02 IU/kg) and a higher (20 IU/kg) dose, respectively. A 3-way analysis of variance supported the conclusion that the kind-of-treatment, time-of-treatment and treatment-to-kill interval (sampling time) are important factors when determining any response to ACTH 1-17 on the mitotic index.