ELECTROPHORETIC SEPARATION OF LYMPHOCYTES FROM RAT SPLEEN AND THYMUS AND THEIR RESPONSE TO MITOGENS INVITRO

Electrophoretic mobility (EPM) of lymphocytes from the thymus and spleen of Wistar and August rats was investigated by free flow electrophoresis and the ability of lymphocytes with different surface electric charges to undergo mitogenic transformation under the influence of phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A was compared. An in vitro culture showed that splenic lymphocytes can be divided into two principal groups depending on their surface charge: cells with high and low mobility respectively. Separation of the thymocytes showed them to be a group of cells consisting of several (8 to 10) fractions differeing in EPM. Ability of the lymphocytes to be stimulated by mitogens was shown to depend on their surface charge. Stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation was observed during exposure of splenic lymphocytes with high mobility in an electric field to mitogens. Lymphocytes with low mobility were not stimulated by mitogens. The subpopulation of thymocytes with low EPM was not stimulated by concanavalin A. Rat thymocytes were shown virtually not to react to phytohemagglutinin irrespective of their EPM. © 1980 Plenum Publishing Corporation.