Cell cycle phase duration in bone marrow cells from malnourished rats during suckling

The generation time and duration of the different phases of the cell cycle were estimated in cultured bone marrow cells from malnourished and well-nourished rats during the lactation period by the percentage labeled mitosis (PLM) technique after a short pulse treatment with tritiated thymidine. The PLM were obtained in sequential analysis after every 3 h from removing labeled thymidine to 27 h of incubation. Results have shown a longer cell cycle time in cells from malnourished rats. The G1 + 1/2M phases are sensitive to experimental severe protein malnutrition (PCM), while S and G2 + 1/2 M phases did not show any differences in duration between malnourished and well-nourished rats.