Abstract
AbstractBackground: Neural cell adhesion molecule (N‐CAM) is important in the migration of neural crest cells and is expressed in the developing heart. The pattern of expression of N‐CAM in the heart of early rat embryos was investigated to shed light on the potential role of N‐CAM in cardiac neural crest cell migration.Methods: N‐CAM expression was studied by immunohistochemistry in Sprague‐Dawley rat hearts between embryonic days 11.5 and 15.5 HNK‐1 immunoreactivity was also investigated for comparison with that of N‐CAM.Results: A continuity of N‐CAM immunoreactivity was transiently detected from the outflow tract to the recurrent nerve. N‐CAM was also expressed around the sinus venosus, inferior vena cava, sinotrial septum, and coronary sinus, as well as on mesenchymal cells in the atrioventricular endocardial cushion tissues.Conclusions: The continuous N‐CAM immunoreactivity from the outflow tract to the recurrent nerve appeared to represent the pathway along which cardiac neural crest cells migrate. N‐CAM‐immunoreactive sites around the sinus venosus may correspond to migrating neural crest cells that differentiate into nerve fibers or cardiac ganglia. Results indicate that N‐CAM may play an important role in the migration, proliferation, and transformation of neural crest cells, thereby contributing to cardiac morphogenesis and to innervation around the heart and great arteries. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Published Version
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