[Effect of a single dose of hydroxyurea on cell division in the esophageal and lingual epithelium of mice].

The mitotic index (MI), labeling index (LI) and the rate of 3H-thymidine nuclear incorporation (TNI) were revealed to decrease within the first hours after a single injection of hydroxyurea (HU) in doses of 100, 250 or 500 Mg/kg bw. After 9-12 hours the LI and MI exceeded the control level, while the TNI returned to normal. The degree of changes in the cell kinetics was found to depend on the dose of HU. The effect of HU on the proliferating cells proves, as a rule, to be temporary and reversible.