[The mitotic origin of binucleated cells in regenerating endothelium]

Regeneration of endothelium after the local cryodestruction of the aortic wall in rats was studied using quantitative methods (determination of the pool of proliferating cells after multiple injections of 3H-thymidine, of the mitotic index and proportion of binucleated cells, and cytophotometry of DNA content in cell nuclei). It is demonstrated that binucleate endotheliocytes are formed as the result of acytokinetic mitosis. According to our calculations, this mechanism completely provides for the increase in the proportion of binucleated cells observed in the regenerating endothelium on days from 2 to 6 after the operation.