Autoradiographic study of cell proliferation in acanthotic buccal epithelium of zinc-deficient rabbits

A zinc-deficient diet for 3 weeks led to acanthotic, hyperparakeratotic buccal epithelium in which the labelling and mitotic indices were increased. The total cell-cycle time was greatly reduced due to reduction in the transit time of the GI phase and, to a lesser extent, of the S and G2 phases. The results cannot be explained by decreased activity of DNA synthesis. They may be due to loss of growth inhibition in oral epithelium.