In a study of intracerebellar allografts of mice brainstem anlagen (embryonic day 12-14), we examined immunocytochemically the expression of two different types of T lymphocytes in and around the grafts. Helper/inducer and cytotoxic/suppressor T cells were identified with anti-L3T4 and anti-Lyt-2 monoclonal antibodies, respectively. Allografts into major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-compatible recipients showed no histological signs of rejection such as marked neovascularization and cellular infiltrates even 6 months after transplantation, but those into MHC-incompatible recipients generally had rejection reactions within one month after transplantation. In the latter cases, the L3T4/Lyt-2 ratio for the T lymphocytes in the infiltrates of the grafts was 1.03 +/- 0.14 (mean +/- S.D.), suggesting that both helper/inducer and cytotoxic/suppressor T cells may play important roles in the mediation of intraparenchymal brain allograft rejection.