Abstract
Human foetal mononuclear cells from thymus, spleen, liver, bone marrow and peripheral blood at 8–24 weeks of gestation were examined for cytochemical evidence of acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) activity. The focal brownish-red ANAE reaction product (T cell staining pattern) was observed in counterstained cytocentrifuged cell smears in the cytoplasm. ANAE-positive lymphoid cells were first observed in the thymus at 9 weeks of gestation. A gradual increase in frequency of ANAE-positive cells in foetal thymus was observed, from about 10% at 14–15 weeks to about 20% at 22–24 weeks of gestation. By 14 weeks of foetal age, spleen and liver contained a few ANAE-positive cells and after 15 weeks of gestation consistent occurrence of ANAE-positive cells was observed in foetal bone marrow and peripheral blood. These results demonstrate that ANAE-positive lymphocytes first appear in the foetal thymus and are subsequently found in the foetal liver, spleen, bone marrow and peripheral blood.
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