Cytophotometric, flow cytofluorometric and morphometric demonstration of the existence of an antigen dependent thymus lymphocyte subpopulation.

Using absorption cytophotometry and flow cytofluorometrical DNA and protein estimation of single thymus lymphocytes we were able to establish that after injection of a large dose of antigen (ovalbumin) a subpopulation of lymphocytes arises in the thymus with high protein contents above that of those lymphocytes normally present, however, in small quantities in the thymus. By morphometrical analysis it was established that these lymphocytes are situated in the outermost cortex.