Localization of mouse isoantigens on the cell surface as revealed by immunofluorescence.

An immunofluorescent technique is described which permits the localization and the semi-quantitative evaluation of isoantigens. Studies of normal and tumour cells have demonstrated that H-2 isoantigens are located in discrete areas on the cell surface. The thymus of 20–25-day-old mice was found to contain approximately 85 per cent lymphoid cells with a very low isoantigen content. These cells are considered to represent thymus cortical lymphoid cells. Cortisol treatment of mice reduced the relative number of cells with low isoantigen content to 10 per cent.