Rosette formation by mouse lymphocytes. I. Demonstration by indirect immunofluorescence of T cells binding sheep erythrocytes

Abstract

A method is described for indirect immunofluorescent staining of mouse T cells forming rosettes, involving fixation of rosettes by glutaraldehyde and staining with a rabbit anti-mouse brain serum absorbed so as to be specific for T cells. Using this technique, it was shown that about 44% of spleen cells forming rosettes with sheep erythrocytes both in non-immunized and immunized mice, are T cells. The number of T rosette-forming cells increased about ten-fold after immunization with sheep erythrocytes, but only when serum antibody was detectable.