Some effects of a thallium salt on the proliferation of hair follicle cells

Abstract
Thallium sulfate is given to young rats at 4 and 7 days of age and the mitotic activity of the hair follicles is assessed quantitatively. There is a marked decline in mitotic rate over 48 h in the Tl-treated animals, which is followed by variable amounts of cell death in the matrix zone. No specific mitotic lesion or change in cell cycle indices is found. A failure of energy metabolism may be a possible cause of the inhibition of hair follicle mitosis by Tl.