Lymphocyte subpopulations of the goat: isolation and identification

Experiments were designed to identify and isolate goat monocytes and lymphocytes. Leukocytes were obtained from peripheral blood, thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes. Thymocytes lacked surface immunoglobulin (Ig) detectable by immunohistochemical techniques and receptors for complement or Ig. A majority of the thymocytes nd nylon-wool purified blood T lymphocytes bound peanut agglutinin (PNA). However, a distinct minority of the T lymphocytes lacked receptors for PNA. The PNA nonreactive lymphocytes represented a greater portion of the cells of the spleen and lymph nodes, suggesting that caprine T lymphocytes may be placed in PNA reactive and nonreactive subpopulations. Lymphocytes with complement and Ig receptors and surface Ig were detected in the blood, spleen, and lymph nodes. These cells met the criteria for caprine B lymphocytes. The lymphocytes were enriched by immunocytoadherence techniques followed by isopyknic centrifugation, and the portion of PNA reactive cells decreased as the number of B lymphocytes increased.