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Alkaline Phosphatase in Differentiating Guinea Pig Thymocytes: An Ultracytochemical Study¹

From the Department of Anatomy and Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, University of Turku, SF-20520 Turku 52, and Department of Pediatrics, University of Oulu, Finland

Abstract

Alkaline phosphatase (AP) was demonstrated ultracytochemically on the cell membrane of guinea pig thymocytes. AP usually covers the whole cell surface. In a small subpopulation of thymocytes the cell membrane is totally AP-negative. These cells are located by light microscopy in the thymic medulla and have been shown previously to possess the migratory properties of mature thymocytes. This AP-negative subpopulation most probably represents the T cell population in the thymic medulla. No distinct morphologic differences could be observed between these AP-positive and AP-negative thymocytes. Additionally, a small AP-negative cell population with characteristics of immature lymphoid cells was noted. These lymphoid cells, which are seen more numerously in the fetal thymus, might represent the differentiating stem cells in the guinea pig thymus.

Footnotes

¹ This work was supported by grants from The Sigrid Juselius Foundation and The Finnish Cultural Foundation.

² Please send correspondence to: Dr. Olli Ruuskanen, Department of Anatomy, University of Turku, SF-20520 Turku 52, Finland.