Non‐specific Acid Esterase Activity in Rat Lymphocytes

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Abstract
In a 1st night''s collection of rat thoracic duct lymphocytes B[bone marrow-derived]- and T[thymus-derived]-cells were distinguished on cytocentrifuge smears by complementary markers: B cells by rosette-formation with Staphylococcus aureus Strain Cowan 1 armed with rabbit antiserum to rat F(ab'')2 and T cells by high uptake of 3H-uridine demonstrated by autoradiography. On incubation of the cytocentrifuge smears for demonstration of .alpha.-naphthyl-acetate esterase (ANAE)-activity, most B cells showed large, intense color deposits often located in the uropod. T cell ANAE-activity was variable, possibly due to variations in experimental conditions. When present, the T cell color deposits were small, dot-like and of low intensity. ANAE-activity may be used to differentiate between rat T and B cells, being a marker for the latter cell type. This is unexpected as others have reported that ANAE-activity is specific for T cells in mouse and man. Studies with inhibitors indicate that the rat B cell enzyme belongs to the acetylesterases.