Thymocyte subpopulations in young and adult mice. II. Study of steroid-resistant populations by means of a specific heteroantiserum.

Mouse steroid-resistant (Sr) cells of the thymus have been studied by means of a specific heteroantiserum. This antiserum was obtained in the rabbit after immunization with Sr thymocytes followed by absorption with high density cells isolated on a Ficoll density gradient shown to include a majority of steroid-sensitive (Ss) cells. Antigens defined by this antiserum were found on Sr thymocytes and on a significant portion of spleen and lymph node cells, but not on Ss cortical thymocytes. Cells sensitive to this antiserum appear early in the thymus (by day 15 of gestation) at the same time as Ss cells. These results suggest (a) the existence of an autonomous Sr cell line, with its own antigenic markers appearing early in ontogeny (at the same time as Ss cells), and showing wide heterogeneity in density, possibly linked to variable degrees in maturation, and (b) the medullary origin or some peripheral lymphocytes in lymph node and spleen cells that share antigenic markers with Sr thymocytes.