Morphology of immune lymphocytes in homograft lymph

Uropod-bearing lymphocytes (UBLs) resembling cytotoxic cells found in vitro were identified in lymph collected from rabbit hind-limbs bearing homografts. UBLs were found in lymph leaving the regional lymph node (efferent), both before and after rejection, but not in that draining the homograft (afferent) even though they were present in the graft tissue itself. UBLs may represent the sub-class of immune lymphocytes which induce necrosis of the grafted cells. Mitotic lymphocytes and cells resembling lymphocytes transformed by phytohaemagglutinin were also found in efferent homograft lymph.