Stains & CD markers
Actin - muscle specific


Last author update: 1 September 2013
Last staff update: 18 September 2024

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PubMed Search: Muscle specific actin

Nat Pernick, M.D.
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Cite this page: Pernick N. Actin - muscle specific. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/stainsactinmusclespecific.html. Accessed December 4th, 2024.
Definition / general
  • Discovered in 1987 (Am J Pathol 1987;126:51); also called HHF35, MSA
  • Recognizes all alpha actins (skeletal, smooth, cardiac) and gamma smooth muscle actin; but not beta cytoplasmic or gamma cytoplasmic actin (the latter is also called non-muscle actin)
  • Recognizes actin expressed in all cells with muscle differentiation (cardiac, smooth and skeletal muscle), myoepithelial cells, myofibroblasts, pericytes and myogenic tumors (Am J Clin Pathol 1991;96:32)
Uses by pathologists
Microscopic (histologic) images

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Endometriosis

Myofibroblastoma: breast (fig d)


Myofibroblastoma: lymph node

Rhabdomyo-sarcoma: CNS, embryonal (fig 4)

Rhabdomyo-sarcoma: oral cavity

Positive staining - normal
  • Cardiac muscle, decidua, myoepithelial cells (although calponin and vimentin may be better, Braz Dent J 2007;18:192), myofibroblasts, pericytes, skeletal muscle, smooth muscle and vascular smooth muscle
Positive staining - disease
Negative staining
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