[Effect of chronic pyrogenal stress on the mitotic regime and quantity of DNA-synthesizing cells in the epithelium of the cornea and tongue of white rats].

The effect of prolonged stress on mitotic regimen and the number of DNA-synthesizing cells in the corneal and tongue epithelium was studied on a model of pyrogenal stress. A five-day pyrogenal administration led to a 1.7-fold reduction of te number of mitoses in the corneal and tongue epithelium. Reduction in number of dividing cells was not associated with the change in the rate of mitosis. The percentage of pathological mitoses in the corneal epithelium of intact rats was 6.1, and it failed to change in stress. In control rats the labeled nuclei index in the corneal and tongue epithelium constituted 12.6 and 10.8. It was similar with the corresponding indices in experimental animals (12.2 and 12.2).