Cell surface immunoglobulin. XIII. Distribution of IgM and IgD-like molecules on small and large cells of mouse spleen.

The distribution among murine spleen cells of a newly described class of surface immunoglobulin (Ig) with properties similar to human IgD was studied. Splenocytes were separated on the basis of size and the surface Ig on large cells (sedimenting faster than 6 mm/hr in a 1 times G velocity gradient) and small cells (sedimenting between 2.5 and 3.0 mm/hr) was analyzed. Spleen cells from young animals had virtually only IgM on the large cells but had substantial amounts of IgM and the IgD-like molecule (IgD) on small cells. Spleen cells from older animals, which have larger amounts of IgD, had IgM and IgD on both cell types; however, the amount of IgD relative to IgM on the large cells was always substantially less than that on the small ones. These observations taken together with those of other investigators support the hypothesis that a large lymphocyte with surface IgM is the precursor of a small lymphocyte with both surface IgM and IgD.