Inhibition of entry into S phase and DNA synthesis in bone marrow cells of mice by repeated injections of gentamycin.

The effect of gentamycin on bone marrow cells in unirradiated and irradiated mice was investigated by 3H-dTh incorporation into DNA using microautoradiography. Gentamycin was injected in vivo at 20 mg base/kg body weight at 8-h intervals during three days. In mice exposed to 4.78 Gy the injections of gentamycin were started on the 7th day after irradiation. In granulopoietic and erythropoietic cells the inhibition of entry of cells into S phase and the retardation of DNA replication was about 20%. The roughly 30% inhibition of entry of cells into S phase observed when the bone marrow cell population has been evaluated as a whole is discussed in terms of increased sensitivity of the young blast-like cells.