A role for the extracellular matrix in retinal neurogenesis in vitro

The germinal neuroepithelial cells that give rise to the majority of neurons in the vertebrate central nervous system are in contact with the basement membrane that surrounds the neural tube from the very earliest stages. The effect of removing this basement membrane on the organization and proliferative potential of these cells was examined in a new slice culture preparation of developing Rana tadpole retina. The results indicate that the germinal neuroepithelium, like other epithelial tissues, requires contact with a basement membrane for the maintenance of its structure and a normal degree of cell proliferation.