The effects of hypertonicity on cell kinetics of EUE cells in culture have been investigated. After 4 days of growth in a hypertonic medium, the plating efficiency of EUE cells was reduced and cell growth was significantly slowed. Flow cytometric measurements of DNA content in synchronized cells, as well as flow cytometric determinations of DNA content and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation in asynchronous cells, also showed that the cell cycle is slowed in a hypertonic medium. In addition, the fraction of cycling cells is smaller and their progression through the S phase slower than in an isotonic medium.