Laminin-5 promotes neurite outgrowth from central and peripheral chick embryonic neurons

Laminin-5 (Ln-5) is an essential component of epithelial basal laminae that is also expressed in the developing nervous system. Here we use a convenie nt, simple and reproducible in vitro fluorescent assay to assess the neurit e outgrowth promoting activity of purified Ln-5. Embryonic chick neurons fr om dorsal root ganglia, ciliary ganglia, and (to a lesser extent) retina ex tended neurites on Ln-5, but the neurite outgrowth promoting activity was n ot as great as that of Ln-l or Ln-2. Neurons from diencephalon, telencephal on, and spinal cord did not respond to Ln-5. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Irel and Ltd. All rights reserved.