Surface IgM determinants on splenic lymphocytes were detected in 80-day old pig fetuses using anti-L and anti-p sera conjugated with horseradish peroxidase. Similarly, by the immunofluorsecence technique, only IgM determinants were demonstrated o n unprimed lymphocytes from spleen and bone marrow iin fetuses at the end of gestation (on the 112-1 14th day) and in precolostral, germ-free piglets.The pattern of labeling with anti-p sera is characteristic for nonactivated lymphocytes as documented on fetal splenic lymphocytes o r the small lymphocytes in a dense lymphatic area of the omentum of precolostral piglets. The lymphocytes which showed surface immunofluorescence staining with anti-y serum were observed in conventionally reared, nonimmunized piglets and appeared in all the germ-free reared piglets which were immunized with sheep red blood cells, human serum albumin or bacterial antigens.We conclude that the true antigen recognition units, or "primary" receptors, on antigen-sensitive uncomitted lymphocytes are exclusively of the IgM type and that the IgG-carrying cells can be detected in piglets only after antigenic stimulation.