Neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) as a marker of muscle tissue alternations. Review of the literature and own observations.

In this paper the expression of neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence on human skeletal muscle is reported. In adult human muscle N-CAM is concentrated near neuromuscular junctions and on satellite cells but is nearly undetectable in non synaptic portions of myofibers. N-CAM is abundant on myotubes and intramuscular nerves in embryonic muscle but is lost as development proceeds. After denervation N-CAM appears along the entire length of muscle fibers. In addition N-CAM is observed on the surface of regenerating muscle cells. These data suggest that N-CAM immunohistochemistry may play complement conventional technique in the diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases.