Extracellular Matrix Components as a Substrate for Outgrowing Motoneurons

Embryonic motoneurons depend on extracellular matrix (ECM), and molecules within which are potent mediators of survival, axonal growth, and guidance, exhibiting either attractive or repellent functions. Therefore, isolated embryonic spinal cord motoneurons were cultured on a three-dimensional substrate composed of different ECM molecules produced by different glia cell lines. The motoneuron-matrix co-culture could be used to analyze the modifying effects of matrix components like chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, bifunctional molecules with modifying properties either due to their protein backbone or the glycan portion subdividing their action into protein and the glycan parts.
Source: Springer protocols feed by Neuroscience - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: news