Nonspecific Esterase Activity in T Cells

Abstract

Histo- or cytochemical demonstration of non-specific acid esterase activity in lymphocytes can be used to differentiate between two cell populations in mouse lymphoid tissue and in lymph or peripheral blood. Using a standardized histochemical technique with fixed incubation time, esterase activity was present in the vast majority of lymphocytes of so-called thymus-dependent areas, in particular the diffuse cortical (paracortical) zone of lymph nodes, and of the thoracic duct while most lymphocytes in primary follicles lacked esterase activity (Fig. l). Based on this observation it was suggested that non-specific acid esterase activity may be used as a criterion for differentiation of peripheral T and B lymphocytes in tissue sections and smears of mouse lymph nodes (1).