MOLECULAR GRADIENT ALONG THE AXON PATHWAY IS NOT REQUIRED FOR DIRECTIONAL AXON GROWTH

We show that axon guidance of embryonic hippocampal neurons is promote d by pathways of a decapeptide (RDIAEIIKDI) derived from a neurite out growth domain of the gamma 1 chain of laminin-1. This guidance is dire ctly dependent on: (1) a concentration difference of the decapeptide b etween the peptide pathway and its surrounding areas, and (2) the opti mal surface geometry of the decapeptide pathway. These results indicat e that axon guidance of central neurons may proceed along a preferred substratum pathway without a concentration gradient of the guiding mol ecule along this pathway, or without a repulsive molecule next to the axon pathway. J. Neurosci. Res. 53:114-124, 1998. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.dagger