Isoproterenol-induced changes of cell proliferation in rat lens epithelium.

The epithelium of the avascular, noninnervated lens was used to study the influence of isoproterenol on cell division. Contrary to the well-known and specific stimulation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis and cell division in the salivary glands of rats and mice by this catecholamine, the rat lens epithelium responded to a single dose of either locally or systemically administered drug with a transitory decrease of DNA synthesis at 16 hours and of mitosis eight hours later. A secondary stimulation of mitotic activity occurred at 48 hours when a high systemic dose of isoproterenol was given, but it could not be evoked by the lower local doses.