[Use of BrdU in the study of cell cycle in normal and abnormal subjects]

Chromosome modifications induced by BrdU allow a study of the cell division cycle during, at least, three consecutive generations. Among normal lymphocytes, the cell cycle varies in duration, but for the majority of cells, is a little shorter than twenty hours. In trisomy 21 individuals, the mean cell cycle is shorter, around 16 hours. In Fanconi's anemia, the cell cycle is slowed down and its duration is approximatively twice that of normal individuals. Endoreduplicating cells seem to have the cycle of longest duration.