The extracellular matrix of the midline and non-midline midbrain glia: correlations with neurite growth-supporting abilities

The central nervous system (CNS) midline plays an important role in growth and guidance of axons. At the midline, a multiplicity of cell types establish boundaries that control the navigation of crossed and uncrossed axonal fibers. The extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules of the resident neuroepithelial or committed neuronal of glial cells could be involved in the control of axon growth and axon guidance. This review reports the recent advances in the study of the structure and functional role of the ECM at the midline locus of the CNS. In vivo and in vitro approaches are considered to provide new clues in the understanding of processes involved in the cellular decisions of the CNS midline.