Overexpression of IL-7Rα in early T-cell compartment of AKR/J mice. Total thymocytes were isolated from 2-month-old AKR/J or B10.BR mice and depleted from CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and TCRαβ⁺ thymocytes by specific antibodies followed by rabbit complement. (A) Remaining TN cells were stained with anti–IL-7Rα–biotin, anti-CD25–APC, and anti-CD44–FITC antibodies. Gates G1 and G2 define cells expressing normal levels of IL-7Rα, and gate G3 defines cells expressing higher levels of IL-7Rα. Numbers denote the mean of IL-7Rα fluorescence intensity ± SE in each gated cell population. Dot plots (B) show the distribution of CD44 versus CD25 among gated G1 cells. Dot plots (C) show the expression of Thy1.1 versus B220 within CD44-expressing or CD25-expressing IL-7Rα^high cells. Results are representative of 3 independent experiments with n = 3 mice for each experiment.