Altered surface topology and membrane functions of rat thymocytes eluted from nylon wool columns

(1) Following incubation of thymocytes with nylon wool at 37 degrees C, the eluted cells showed an increase in the number of microvilli per cell and a concominant elongation of the microvilli (0.22 mum versus 1.15 mum. (2) Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cylic AMP) levels were lowered by 30-50% in nylon wool-treated thymocytes. (3) Nylon wool-treated cells showed an impaired Na+-dependent amino acid transport system (2-aminoisobutyrate) whereas the Na+-independent amino acid transport system (1-aminocyclopentane-1-carboxylate) was unaffected.