CD45RA is detected in all thymocyte subsets defined by CD4 and CD8 by using three-colour flow cytometry.

In the mouse, using three-colour flow cytometry, the presence of CD45RA+ cells is demonstrated amongst all of the thymocyte subsets defined by expression of CD4 and CD8, i.e. amongst the double negatives, immature CD8 single positives, double-positive blasts and CD4 and CD8 single positives. This evidence is compatible with the existence of a continuous lineage of T cells expressing CD45RA which would develop from double-negative to mature single-positive T cells.