title: Cytochemical study of thymocytes and T lymphocytes.
abstract: Fetal and postnatal thymocytes and circulating T lymphocytes were evaluated for six cytochemical reactions. Acid phosphatase activity was present in a high percentage of cells in all threee groups. Beta-glucoronidase and alpha-naphthyl acetate acid esterase were negative in the most immature fetal thymocytes, but become increasingly positive with T-cell maturation. Only the circulating lymphocytes presented a high percentage of N-acetyl beta glucosaminidase, alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase and alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase positive cells. This study discusses the presence of these enzymes as proportional to different stages in T-cell maturation, and also of certain cytochemical phenotypes characteristic of these stages.
mesh_terms: D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase / Q000097:blood; D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004950:Esterases / Q000097:blood; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000097:blood; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D004950:Esterases; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D005966:Glucuronidase; D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase