Decreased membrane potential of T lymphocytes in ageing mice: flow cytometric studies with a carbocyanine dye.

摘要: The membrane potential of lymphocytes from young (1-4-month-old) and old (25-37-month-old) CBA/Ca mice was studied with the aid fluorescent dye 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC6(3)). In mice, most B T showed a high, equal, degree polarization. animals most, in older individuals almost all, were found to be depolarized; both Lyt-2+ Lyt-2- subsets affected. cells largely unaffected. Since changes transmembrane potential, including temporary hyperpolarization, are known accompany lymphocyte activation, depolarized state may related decline T-cell function that occurs during senescence.