Observations on rabbit thymocytes and peripheral T cells. II. Rosette formation with rabbit erythrocytes.

The affinity of rabbit thymocytes and a proportion of lymphocytes for homologous and autologous erythrocytes has been investigated. Thymocytes were found to rosette strongly with untreated, washed erythrocytes, although reactions on peripheral lymphocytes from blood and lymph nodes were weaker. Enzyme treatment of the erythrocytes was used in attempts to improve reactions with peripheral lymphocytes. While neuraminidase-treated cells showed no increased reactivity, erythrocytes treated with papain were more firmly bound and reacted with greater numbers of blood and lymph node cells. Evidence was obtained to show that peripheral lymphocytes which have an affinity for papain-treated erythrocytes belong to the thymus-derived T cell population.