Cytochemical and ultrastructural characters of human peripheral blood lymphocytes according to their surface markers

Abstract

The human peripheral blood lymphocytes are characterized by different surface markers: The B lymphocytes by the EAC rosettes and surface immunoglobulin and the T lymphocytes by the E-rosettes. Each lymphoid population has been studied for cytochemical parameters (Acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase) by light microscopy and for ultrastructural characteristics by micromanipulation and immunoelectronmicroscopy. It has been shown that the studied enzymes are markers for T cells with high affinity for sheep red blood cells and that the separation of lymphocytes by the rosette techniques leads to homogenous cell populations at the ultrastructural level. A classification of peripheral lymphocytes according to their immunocytochemical profile is discussed.