Antibodies to the neural cell adhesion molecule disrupt functional recovery in injured nerves

Tubes containing specific monoclonal antibodies to the neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) were applied to transected sciatic nerves to attempt to perturb the recovery of muscle function. Physiological recordings were used to estimate the return of function. The decline of implanted antibody over 28 days was estimated and negatively correlated with the degree of functional recovery. No significant immune responses were detected in response to the implanted material. The data implicated N-CAM as a significant component of nerve regeneration.