Response of Epidermal Basal Cells to Orally Administered Etretinate

—Cytofluorometric Study of Nuclear DNA—

Abstract

Nuclear DNA of epidermal basal cells in the guinea pig ear after oral administration of etretinate was investigated using the cytofluorometric method. The animals were given etretinate in the daily dose of 5mg or 10mg/kg. In those on 5mg/kg, growth in the relative number of S phase cells to the total cell number was highest at 2 weeks, and the value of nuclear protein in G₁ cells was also high. These changes were more prominent in animals given 10 mg/kg.