Effect of physiological concentrations of sex hormones on the formation of "early" sheep red blood cell rosettes by human lymphocytes. Possible relations with the presence of sex-hormone-cytosol-receptors in lymphocytes.

The formation of "early" sheep red blood cell rosettes by normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes was increased by incubation with physiological concentration of 17 beta-Estradiol. This effect was shown to be hormone specific. Whole cell incorporation of radioactive hormones and analysis by gel filtration of cytosols incubated with labeled hormones have shown a saturable fixation of estrogens and androgens. These results raise the possibility that normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes are target cells for sex steroid hormones.