ANAE staining pattern of rat lymphocytes: lack of correlation with lymphocyte subclasses

Lymphocytes from various lymphoid organs of WF and BN rats were isolated and stained for acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) activity. From all organs examined-peripheral blood, lymph nodes, and spleen-70-80% of the lymphocytes were stained for ANAE activity. After separation into B and non-B cells by affinity chromatography on anti-Ig columns, esterase-negative lymphocytes were detected in both populations, demonstrating that ANAE staining cannot be used as a lymphocyte subclass marker in rats, in contrast to the situation in human and mice.