Immunolocalisation of dystrophin in the immature human neurons and muscles.

Dystrophin, the product of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene, has been shown to be developmentally regulated in both human muscle and brain tissues. We consequently performed an immunocytochemical study using electron microscopy to localise the protein in the immature human fetal muscle and neurons. Results demonstrated that, even if dystrophin was partially associated to the plasma membrane in both tissues, some product was also linked to the neurofilaments network in neurons and to microfilaments in muscle. An intense staining was also found in satellite cells.