[Formation of E-rosettes in homozygous nude mice (nu/nu) and heterozygotes (nu/+)]

Nude homozygote nu/nu mice show a deficiency in their cellular immune response, due to the fact that their thymic tissue is very scarce. The purpose of this paper has been to determine whether nu/nu mice, in the presence of T lymphocytes, have the capacity of forming E rosettes with sheep erythrocytes. These mice do present them, although in significantly lower quantities when compared to the nu/+ and normal ones of Balb/c strain. This result confirms previous information which point towards the existence of other types of markers on the surface of T lymphocytes in nu/nu mice.