Serological identification and separation of canine lymphocyte subpopulations.

In vitro treatment of bone marrow grafts with absorbed rabbit-antidog thymocyte globulin (ATG) prevented graft-versus-host disease in a substantial number of the dogs differing by one DLA haplotype. Absorbed ATG has now been used for serological identification of canine lymphocyte populations. Specific labeling of canine T-lymphocytes by absorbed ATG could be demonstrated by (a) a distribution of ATG-positive cells in suspensions of canine lymphoid organs similar to that of T cells observed in other species and by specific staining of paracortical thymus-dependent lymph node areas in immunohistochemistry, (b) complementary labeling of nylon-wool-separated cells by ATG and antiimmunoglobulin sera, and (c) correlation of ATG surface labeling with responder activities in mixed lymphocyte cultures.