Neuronal migration in cerebellar microcultures is inhibited by antibodies against a neurite outgrowth domain of laminin.

The functional role of laminin in neuronal migration was investigated by using polyclonal antibodies or their divalent (Fab')2 fragments to a neurite outgrowth promoting domain of the B2 chain of laminin in a cerebellar microculture system widely recognized as a model for neuronal migration. We show here that these antibodies or their (Fab')2 fragments totally inhibit migration of the mouse cerebellar granule cells along the glial and other neuronal cell processes. Antibodies to native laminin or other control antibodies have no inhibitory effect. Immunocytochemical analysis of the cerebellar microcultures indicates that the functional role of these antibodies may relate to the fact that the punctate deposits of laminin and its neurite outgrowth promoting domain accumulate in between the migrating neurons and the glial cells. These data provide the first direct evidence for the functional role of laminin and its neurite outgrowth domain in neuronal migration in the mammals. They further suggest that a neuronal cell surface contact with the extracellular deposits of a neurite outgrowth domain of the B2 chain of laminin may mediate neuronal-glial interactions.