Concanavalin A-induced electrokinetic changes and redistribution of receptors in mouse thymocytes

Thymocytes are known to consist of mature and immature cells. The assessment of Con A-induced changes in electrophoretic mobilities (EPM) and receptor redistribution in thymocytes of AKR mice revealed two distinct sub-populations of cells. Sub-population A showed receptor redistribution and increase in EPM at low concentrations of Con A (5 micrograms/ml). Majority of these cells showed two sets of sequentially reacting receptor sites for the lectin. Cells belonging to sub-population B, in contrast, required higher concentrations (15-25 micrograms/ml) of Con A for the redistribution of receptors. Second set of receptors, reacting with Con A after the redistribution of the first set, could not be detected on these cells. High concentrations of Con A inhibited receptor mobility on all the thymocytes. The receptor redistributional profile of cells in the sub-population A was similar to that of mature splenic T-cells while cells in sub-population B resembled the immature leukaemic cells in this respect. These investigations provide an additional parameter to study cellular heterogeneity in thymus.