Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase and glucocorticoid receptors in rat thymocytes

Higher level of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) and peanut agglutinin (PNA)-positive cells were found in those fractions of albumin gradient separated rat thymocytes that had a higher level of glucocorticoid (GC) receptors and a lower level of sialyltransferase (S-T) activity. Incubation of thymocytes in these fractions with dexamethasone inhibited RNA synthesis significantly. Incubation of these thymocytes with tetradecanoylphorbol-acetate (TPA) reduced TdT activity, while increasing S-T activity. The higher level of GC receptors may be responsible for GC sensitivity of TdT-positive thymocytes. In addition, sialyltransferase may be a biochemical marker for thymocyte differentiation.