The effect of adriamycin (5 mg/kg) on 3H-thymidine incorporation and on dentin formation was studied in rat incisors. Male Sprague Dawley rats received an intravenous injection of adriamycin. Some of these also received a subcutaneous injection of 3H-thymidine at a dose of 2 mCi/kg one day later. One group of control animals received an intravenous injection of a volume of physiological saline equal to that of the adriamycin dose. Another group received physiological saline, and one hour later was given an additional injection of 3H-thymidine at a similar dose as above. All the animals were killed by perfusion with 2.5% phosphate buffered glutaraldehyde 1 h, 1 d, 4 d, 8 d, 16 d, 28 d, and 32 d after 3H-thymidine treatment. Light microscopy revealed irregular dentin deposits between the mantle and circumpulpal layer of the labial dentin at 16 d. Within these deposits were trapped cells. The latter, through radioautographic labelling, appeared to be cells from the odontoblast layer. Also, the labelling pattern of the enamel organ in both the control and experimental groups indicated that the eruption rate of the tooth was not affected. Serial sectioning and examination of the lingual portion of the incisors at 28 d revealed a lack of dentin formation and a failure in the closure of the apical foramen. Electron microscopic observations showed an irregular and random arrangement of collagen fibers within the deposits of irregular dentin, and the presence of twisted odontoblastic processes. Examination of the lingual surface showed the presence of fibroblasts and collagen fibers bridging the gap that resulted from the failure in dentin formation. These cells, which were similar to periodontal ligament cells, appeared to have arisen from that area. These results indicate that adriamycin has no effect on tooth eruption, but has a reversible effect on the function of secretory odontoblasts, which manifested itself as a periodic deposition of irregular dentin on the labial surface, and on dentin formation on the lingual surface which manifested itself as a failure in dentin formation, and consequently, the closure of the apical foramen.