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γ1 Laminin and its biologically active KDI‐domain may guide axons in the floor plate of human embryonic spinal cord
Author(s) -
Wiksten Markus,
Liebkind Ron,
Laatikainen Timo,
Liesi Päivi
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.10495
Subject(s) - floor plate , neurite , colocalization , laminin , spinal cord , biology , immunocytochemistry , anatomy , embryonic stem cell , axon , neuroscience , microbiology and biotechnology , axon guidance , extracellular matrix , in vitro , biochemistry , endocrinology , gene
Immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization and Matrigel‐embedded cultures were used to investigate the distribution of laminins during development of the human embryonic spinal cord (7–11 weeks). Our results indicate that α1, β1, β3 and γ1 laminins localize as punctate deposits in the floor plate region in association with commissural fibers crossing the ventral midline. In addition, the neurite outgrowth domain of γ1 laminin accumulates heavily in the floor plate region, in the notochord and in GFAP‐immunoreactive glial fibers of the embryonic spinal cord. In culture experiments, the biologically active KDI‐domain of γ1 laminin selectively attracted directional outgrowth of neurites from explants of the dorsal spinal cord. The spatial and temporal colocalization of punctate deposits of laminins with nerve fibers crossing the ventral midline, and the guidance of neurites by the KDI‐peptide domain, indicate that laminins, specifically the γ1 laminin, may be involved in guidance of axons during embryonic development of the human spinal cord. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.