Membrane fluorescent probes for revealing lymphocyte population heterogeneity. II. T-and B-lymphocytes of human peripheral blood.

Lymphocytes of human peripheral blood were stained with a fluorescent probe 3-methoxybenzanthrone (MBA) and their fluorescence intensities measured using a cytofluorimeter. The lymphocytes are shown to be heterogeneous in fluorescence intensity. The fluorescence intensity of B-cells is 2-3 times higher than that of T-cells. Some data suggest that null-cells have an intermediate fluorescence intensity. Thus, with MBA it is possible to distinguish T- and B-lymphocytes in man.