Compartmentalizing the S period

In order to increase the resolution of interphase analysis we have developed a method which is an alternative to cytofluometric techniques for tissues where cell flow is not applicable. The method combines the estimation of cell frequency in G1, S, G2 and mitosis after a 3H-thymidine pulse with the grouping of interphase cells according to their DNA content, as estimated by cytophotometry in Feulgen stained nuclei. By superimposing both sets of data we get three different artificial compartments within the S period. As a biological test of the resolution reached, the method readily confirmed that hydroxyurea, after one cycle time, accumulates cycling cells of Allium cepa L. root meristems in early S.