Cytophotometric study of the DNA content in experimental pulmonary granuloma.

Pulmonary granulomas were induced in rabbits with Freund's complete adjuvant. Histologic alterations, the mitotic index and Feulgen-DNA amounts determined by a cytophotometric method were studied. The mitotic index and DNA amounts increased significantly within the first hours and reached peak values on the 3rd day, then showed a tendency to decrease after the 7th day. After the 3rd day, a certain dissociation was noted between the mitotic index and Feulgen-DNA amount. The change in Feulgen-DNA content reflects the functional alterations that characterize pulmonary granuloma.