Localization of human T lymphocytes in tissue sections by a rosetting technique.

A technique for the formation of sheep erythrocyte (E) rosettes in frozen human tissue sections is reported. The labile nature of the receptor for E rosettes on lymphocytes requires the use of controlled conditions for tissue processing and the reaction with indicator cells. The distribution of E rosettes in sections of normal human thymus, lymph nodes, tonsils, and spleens was comparable to that of the T marker-positive cells identified by immunofluorescence with the specific anti-human T cell serum. There with no overlap with areas positive for 19S EAC and 7S EA rosettes. Erythrocytes treated with a sulfhydryl reagent, 2-aminoethylisothiuronium bromide (AET), and with neuraminidase formed better rosettes in sections than did untreated erythrocytes. E rosettes in tissue sections can determine changes in the distribution of T cells in different lymphoproliferative and infiltrating disorders.