Neurons cultured from developing rat brain attach and spread preferentially to laminin

Neurons, mechanically dissociated from newborn rat brain and identified by immunostaining for neurofilaments, attached preferentially to laminin-coated coverslips without need of an underlying glial monolayer. The most extensive neurite outgrowth was seen when 20-30 micrograms/ml of laminin was used to coat the coverslips. Higher concentrations of laminin (greater than 30 micrograms/ml) supported single neurons to spread on the coverslips. Fibronectin coating of the coverslips allowed glial cells to attach more rapidly than on uncoated surfaces, but it did not support neuronal spreading or neurite outgrowth. Spreading of neurons and neurite outgrowth were completely inhibited by preincubation of laminin-coated coverslips with laminin antibodies but were unaffected by fibronectin antibodies. These results indicate that laminin is an attachment and spreading factor for central neurons in culture and suggest the presence of a laminin receptor on the neuronal cell surfaces.