Immunoglobulin determinants on the lymphocytes of normal rabbits. I. Demonstration by the mixed antiglobulin reaction of determinants recognized by anti-gamma, anti-mu, anti-Fab and anti-allotype sera, anti-As4 and anti-As6

Abstract

Immunoglobulin determinants can be shown on the membrane of circulating lymphocytes of the rabbit by the mixed antiglobulin reaction. An enumeration was made of lymphocytes reacting specifically with anti-γ, anti-μ, anti-Fab and anti-L chain sera. The L chain allotypic determinants As4 and As6 were also shown and reacting cells enumerated. There was a marked dose-dependence between the concentration of the antiglobulin reagent used to treat the lymphocyte suspension and the number of lymphocytes reacting to form rosettes.

The experiments reported at this stage bear no direct evidence on the question as to whether the μ- and γ-determinants, or more than one L chain allotypic determinant can exist on the one cell.

Of three rabbits with 26, 47, and 61 per cent IgG-reacting lymphocytes in the circulation, only one had 1 per cent reacting cells in the thymus while the other two had less than 1 per cent. No μ-reacting cells were detectable in the thymuses of the two rabbits tested.