Effects of preincubating human peripheral blood lymphocytes on their ability to bind sheep red blood cells

The effect of preincubating human peripheral lymphocytes at 37°C or 4°C for various lengths of time on their subsequent ability to form rosettes with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was investigated. Lymphocytes suspended in either medium or medium containing fetal calf serum (FCS) and preincubated at 37°C for 30 min exhibited marked decrease in rosette formation with a return to normal values by 120 min. However, neither lymphocytes suspended in medium and preincubated at 4°C nor lymphocytes suspended in medium containing normal human serum (HS) and preincubated at 37°C exhibited this phenomenon.