N-CAM PROMOTES RECOVERY IN INJURED NERVES

The neural cell adhesion molecule, N-CAM, makes critical contributions to the development of the nervous system. It mediates the stability o f hemophilic adhesion in embryonic neurons and participates in morphol ogic differentiation. The goal of these studies was to determine N-CAM contributions to nerve regeneration and recovery of function in two s pecies with an excised segment of sciatic nerve, N-CAM was isolated fr om embryonic brains, affinity purified and admired in collagen gel for administration. Recovery was compared 30 days after surgery for two t ypes of N-CAM delivery: entubulization versus direct application, For control nerves, tubes contained gel only, In preliminary chicken studi es, latency of nerve responses was measured to demonstrate N-CAM's abi lity to improve upon spontaneous recovery. In subsequent studies of ro dent nerves, the direct application of N-CAM significantly improved re covery in evoked nerve response amplitude, number of regenerated axons and behavioral activity. Results demonstrate N-CAM's ability to augme nt nerve regeneration and suggest a potential for therapeutic use.