[Biological role of the reactive inhibition of mitoses during stress]

The course of cell division processes under the influence of various stressors reflecting the main variants of the general adaptation syndrome were studied in corneal epithelium. The process of cell division was assessed by counting mitoses, including pathological ones, and by autoradiographic and cytophotometric analysis of interphase. In the adequate course of the general adaptation syndrome, lengthening of G2-period provoked by enhanced secretion of adrenal hormones and causing a decrease in the number of mitoses occurs in the first hours of stress, the level of pathological mitoses and DNA synthesis remaining stable. When stress was exerted on adrenalectomised rats, the premitotic period did not increase, the number of mitoses did not decrease, the number of pathological mitoses, however, increased, their spectrum extended, DNA synthesis was altered. Adrenal hormones are considered to be an important part of the functional system of mitosis contributing to the maintenance of host genetic stability.