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 convenient, simple and reproducible in vitro fluorescent assay to assess the neurite outgrowth promoting activity of purified Ln-5. Embryonic chick neurons from dorsal root ganglia, ciliary ganglia, and (to a lesser extent) retina extended neurites on Ln-5, but the neurite outgrowth promoting activity was not as great as that of Ln-1 or Ln-2. Neurons from diencephalon, telencephalon, and spinal cord did not respond to Ln-5.