Immunocytochemical demonstration of the 'neuronal membrane marker' the D2-glycoprotein in human embryos.
The regional distribution and cellular localization of the D2-glycoprotein in human embryonic tissues have been investigated by immunocytochemistry at the light microscope level in sections of human embryonic brain, spinal cord, some neural crest derivatives, muscle, liver and skin. the majority of neuronal membranes exhibited a positive staining reaction for D2 already in the earliest (15 mm crown-rump length) embryo examined. By 20 mm crown-rump length and later a positive staining associated with membranes of embryonic muscle, bile canaliculi, epithelial cells of the skin and choroid plexus was also observed. The D2 which is immunochemically related to the neuronal cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM), is supposed to be involved in cell adhesion phenomena. We find this suggested function less compatible with demonstrated localization of the D2-glycoprotein.
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D006023:Glycoproteins