Ultrastructural localization of concanavalin A-binding sites in satellite cells of human skeletal muscle.

Electron-microscopic cytochemical studies on satellite cells of normal human skeletal muscle were carried out using the concanavalin A-peroxidase (Con A-HRP) coupling method. Con A-binding sites, which probably correspond to glycoproteins, were found to be associated with the cell surface, smooth surfaced vesicles, nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum of the satellite cells and were also identified at the cell surface of the adjacent muscle fiber. The possible relationships of these observations to the functions of satellite cells are discussed.