The possible role of neural cell adhesion molecules in the accumulation of acetylcholine receptors and synapse formation in Xenopus laevis nerve-muscle cultures

Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is a plasma membrane glycoprotein that is thought to mediate adhesion between neuronal elements and to play an important role in neural development. Whether NCAM plays a direct role in the accumulation of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) and ACh release in Xenopus laevis nerve-muscle cultures was investigated. In particular, the presence of MEPPs in nerve-contacted muscle cells in the presence or absence of Anti-NCAM Fab-fragments was studied, as well as the co-localization of clusters of AChRs and NCAM in nerve and muscle cell surfaces. Cell culture, intracellular recording, fluorescent toxin labeling of AChRs and NCAM labeling with specific antibody were used in this study. The results showed that NCAM does not play a significant role either in ACh release or accumulation of AChRs.