Immunohistological localization and characterization of FITC-labelled lymphocytes. A rapid and inexpensive method for...

Immunohistochemical methods are described for the detection and characterization of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled lymphocytes on cryostat sections using an anti-FITC antibody. As a model, the localization of thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDL) in the rat spleen was examined at three time intervals. The kinetic patterns observed clearly differed between the four splenic compartments examined, namely: the red pulp, the marginal zone, the periarteriolar lymphatic sheath (PALS) and the follicle. Furthermore, the subset composition of the immigrant lymphocytes was determined by two colour immunohistochemical staining, which permitted simultaneous detection of the FITC label and surface markers. The results suggest that this method is a fast, easy and inexpensive approach to studies of lymphocyte migration.