Surface markers of lymphocytes in the snake, Spalerosophis diadema. I. Investigation of lymphocyte surface markers.
A specific antiserum was raised in rabbits against thymocytes from snakes, Spalerosophis diadema, and was absorbed repeatedly with snake erythrocytes and kidney cells. In complement-dependent cytotoxicity assays, the absorbed anti-thymocyte serum (ATS) was, at any given dilution, cytotoxic to Sp. diadema thymocytes > peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) > spleen cells and could be titrated to a plateau defining a population of about 98% of thymocytes, 80% of PBL and 72% of spleen cells. Antiserum directed against snake immunoglobulins was obtained by injecting rabbits with gamma-globulins separated from snake serum by DEAE-cellulose filtration. the anti-gamma globulin serum was absorbed with snake erythrocytes, and in indirect membrane immunofluorescence stained no thymocytes while reacted with about 15% of PBL and 29% of spleen lymphocytes up to a 1:8 dilution. Fluorescence of positive cells was distributed in spots, patches or caps; cap formation could be inhibited by maintaining the immunofluorescence test at +4 degrees. In each of six separate experiments performed during spring, the percentage of lymphocytes which reacted with anti-snake gamma-globulin serum complemented the percentage of cells recognized by ATS. It was shown, furthermore, that about 3%, 8% and 21% of lymphocytes from thymus, peripheral blood and spleen, respectively, possess a receptor for 2-mercaptoethanol-insensitive antibody-sheep erythrocyte complexes. The results indicate that lymphocyte structural heterogeneity exists in reptiles.
D000818:Animals; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000032:analysis*; D012397:Rosette Formation; D012911:Snakes / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell