Preparative Fractionation of T and B Lymphocytes of the Syrian Golden Hamster with Soybean Agglutinin

Abstract
T and B lymphocytes of the Syrian golden hamster were separated from spleen cell preparations on the basis of their differential agglutinability with the lectin soybean agglutinin. Only B lymphocytes were agglutinated by this lectin, and they could be separated from the unagglutinated T lymphocytes by sedimentation through 50% heat inactivated calf serum at unit gravity. The B lymphocyte aggregates could be dissociated into single cells that were viable and functional after treatment with 0.5 M galactose. The isolated cell fractions were characterized by their blastogenic response to various T cell and B cell specific mitogens and by the presence or absence of cell surface IgG.