Depletion of leukocytes by anti-RT7^a mAb.

LEW.1W rats (n = 15) received a low dose (see text; Figure 4) of anti-RT7^a mAb on day 0. At each time point indicated, 3 animals were killed. Leukocytes of whole blood and tissue samples (gained as described) were labeled with respective mAbs (compare staining in Figure 1). Blood (panel A), spleen (panel B), and lymph nodes (panel C) were analyzed in FACS. T-cell (-●-), B-cell (-▴-), and granulocyte (-▾-) counts are shown as the fraction of total leukocytes analyzed. In panel D, counts of total thymic T-cell receptor–positive (TCR⁺) T cells (labeled with R73 mAb) (-●-) are compared with CD8⁺CD4⁺ thymocytes (-▴-).