An improved technique for Ia-determination in guinea pigs.

The serological typing of determinants within the guinea pig histocompatibility complex (GPLA-complex) has, until now, largely been carried out by the 51Cr-release technique. As target cells, a mixture of B and T cells from peripheral blood and lymph nodes were used. However, for the detection of Ia-determinants, which predominantly are expressed on the surface of B cells, the use of lymphocyte suspensions with a relatively low content of B cells can cause some evaluation problems. We have developed a simple method for obtaining a relatively pure suspension of B cells, making use of the ability of guinea pig T cells to form rosettes with rabbit red blood cells and the possibility of removing these by sedimentation on lymphoflot. By employing these purified B cells, an improved serological detection of Ia-determinants of the guinea pig histocompatibility complex is made possible.