Cell kinetics of hamster ventral tongue epithelium in iron deficiency.

The cell-kinetic parameters of labelling index and duration of the S phase of the cell cycle (Ts) were investigated in the ventral tongue epithelium of hamsters with experimentally-induced iron deficiency. The labelling indices in animals with iron-deficiency anaemia and iron deficiency without anaemia did not differ from normal, but the Ts values were significantly shorter indicating an increased cell-production rate. The epithelial cell-kinetic parameters of iron-depleted animals did not differ from normal, but the labelling index was greater than in animals with the more severe stages of iron deficiency.