title: Neural cell adhesion molecule expression in the human carotid body.
abstract: We studied by immunocytochemistry the expression of NCAM in human carotid bodies, sampled at autopsy from 16 adult subjects (mean age +/- SD: 44.3 +/- 3.4 years). No NCAM immunoreactivity was visible in type II cells. An high percentage (78.3 +/- 7.2%) of type I cells showed positive anti-NCAM immunoreaction. Statistically significant differences were not found in anti-NCAM immunostaining of light and dark cells (80.2 +/- 6.2% vs 74.7 +/- 13.4%, P>0.05). The high expression level of NCAM in the carotid body indicates a role in regulating adhesion between type I cells. The ascertained role of NCAM in neural mechanisms of differentiation, survival and cell plasticity suggests a possible involvement in the development/differentiation process of the carotid body and in determining cellular/molecular changes due to chronic hypoxia.
authors.affiliation: Section of Anatomy, Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Porzionato
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vigato
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Macchi
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parenti
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Caro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002344:Carotid Body / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000502:physiology; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules