N-cadherin involvement in cardiac myocyte interaction and myofibrillogenesis.
N-cadherin is a cell-surface, Ca(2+)-dependent adhesion molecule found in intercalated disks and extrajunctional sites in the myocardium. In this paper we show that antibodies specific for N-cadherin inhibit the contraction of both interacting and single myocytes isolated from embryonic chicken hearts. Quantitative electron microscopy revealed that anti-N-cadherin significantly decreases cell-cell contact between interacting myocytes, consistent with a role for N-cadherin as a cell-cell adhesion molecule. In addition, quantitative electron microscopy showed that anti-N-cadherin treatment of cardiomyocytes results in a significant reduction in the cytoplasmic area occupied by myofibrils, implying that N-cadherin also plays a role in myofibrillogenesis. We propose that N-cadherin, in addition to mediating cardiac myocyte interaction, promotes myofibril formation necessary for functional activity of the myocardium.
Soler
A P
AP
Lankenau Medical Research Center, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania 19096.
Knudsen
K A
KA
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000906:Antibodies; D015820:Cadherins