Proliferation equivalent of 'accelerated repopulation' in mouse oral mucosa.

The proliferation response and changes in cellularity of mouse tongue epithelium were studied after single doses of X-rays and during 3 weeks of daily irradiation. A single dose of 13 Gy resulted in minimum cellularity (70% of control values) on days 3-5 and complete restoration on day 7. Mitotic activity ceased for 1 day followed by normal-to-supranormal values until day 15.