Separation and characterization of cell subpopulations in the thymus.

Abstract

Electrophoretic mobility and PHA responsiveness were studied in mouse thymus cells fractionated on albumin gradient. It was demonstrated that cells with the same electrophoretic mobility may have different buoyant densities. Cortisone-sensitive cells were found to have slow electrophoretic mobility whereas cortisone-resistant PHA responsive cells had fast electrophoretic mobility. Both populations were recovered throughout the gradient but in different proportions.