Chronological changes in the cell cycle of chick neuroepithelial cells

Abstract

ABSTRACT Radioautographic data obtained from a total of 103 chick embryos injected with [3H]thymidine suggest that the generation time of neuroepithelial cells in dorsolateral regions of the optic tectum increases from approximately 8 h at 3 days of incubation to 15 h at 6 days of incubation. The most marked change occurs between the 4th and 5th day, when the generation time increases from 9 to 13 h, respectively. Between the 3rd and 6th day of incubation the length of the DNA-synthetic (S) period and of the premitotic (G2) period remains fairly constant; however, the duration of mitosis (M) and of the postmitotic (GJ period appears to be prolonged.