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Forty samples of cord blood lymphocytes were isolated from 40 normal healthy full-term newborns. The initial 20 samples were used to determine the dose-response curve of three different thymic extracts (TP-1, bovine thymic extract; TG-15-I and TG-15-II, both porcine thymic extracts) and one of renal origin (KG-1) as a control of non-lymphoid organ extract, by measuring the E-rosette T cells. Results showed that E-rosette T cells increased significantly when the thymic extract concentration was increased to 12.5 micrograms/ml. However, there was no statistical difference between TP-1, TG-15-I and TG-15-II in the increase of E-rosette-forming cells. The remaining 20 samples were preincubated with 0, 12.5, 25 or 50 micrograms/ml of thymic extracts. It was observed that the lymphoproliferation, interleukin-2 (IL-2), gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrotic factor (TNF) production were all significantly increased after thymic extract treatment. No statistical difference between these three thymic preparations in the stimulation of lymphoproliferative response was found. However, among the three thymic extracts, TP-1 appears to induce the highest amounts of IL-2, IFN-gamma and TNF. Of the TG-15-I and TG-15-II, the former stimulates higher IL-2 production whereas the latter enhances IFN-gamma and TNF production. The different immunostimulating effects and potencies that these three thymic extracts showed may reflect not only the species difference but also the difference in preparation procedures. Different components in these thymic extracts may be responsible for different biological activities. Results from these comparative studies may provide useful information in future clinical trials for the treatment of the primary immunodeficiency diseases according to their pathogenesis and may also indicate a possible beneficial effect of the combination of chemotherapy and thymic extracts.