The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex network of proteins and carbohydrates that surrounds cells and provides structural support to tissues in the body, including the brain. In neuroscience, the ECM plays essential roles in various aspects of neural development, plasticity, and function. During brain development, the ECM initially plays a critical role in guiding the migration of neurons and their differentiation into specific cell types. The ECM firstly provides a substrate for migrating neurons to follow in the developing brain. Additionally, the ECM regulates the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells, influencing their fate and determining the types of neurons and glial cells generated. The ECM is also instrumental in forming and shaping neural circuits. As neurons extend their axons and dendrites to form connections with other neurons, they encounter ECM molecules that provide guidance cues. These cues help direct axonal growth and determine where synapses will form, facilitating the establishment of precise connections within neural circuits. The ECM also plays a role in synaptic plasticity with ECM molecules influencing the stability and remodelling of synapses, critical for learning and memory processes. In addition to its developmental roles, the ECM is also involved in adult neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to adapt and reorganize in response to experience. Neural plasticity underlies learning, memory, and recovery from brain injuries. Here, the ECM modulates synaptic plasticity, contributing to the strengthening or weakening of synaptic connections during learning and memory processes and influences the remodelling of neural circuits in response to changes in sensory inputs or environmental conditions. The ECM is not simply a structural component but also serves as a reservoir for various signalling molecules influencing neural function. Growth factors, cytokines, and other signalling molecules can be sequestered within the ECM, and their release can be regulated by enzymatic degradation or changes in the ECM composition. For example, Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF), a growth factor that primarily supports the survival and maintenance of dopaminergic neurons in the brain, interacts with ECM proteins like heparan sulphate and chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans. NGF, another essential growth factor involved in the development and maintenance of neurons, especially in the peripheral nervous system, can similarly bind to specific ECM components, such as laminin and collagen, to exert its effects on neurons. Dysregulation of the ECM has been implicated in various neurological disorders. For example, changes in ECM composition and organization have been observed in neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities. In neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, abnormal deposition of certain ECM molecules, like amyloid-beta, can contribute to the formation of protein aggregates and disrupt neural function. Reactive gliosis, a process in which glial cells (astrocytes and microglia) become activated in response to neural injury or disease, is also a hallmark of neurodegenerative conditions. Activated glial cells can produce and secrete ECM components, contributing to the altered ECM composition in the diseased brain. We offer a large product range of research tools for studying ECM proteins, including NCAM antibodies, Syndecan-1 antibodies, Bestrophin antibodies, SIRP alpha antibodies, and Laminin ELISA Kits. Explore our full ECM proteins product range below and discover more, for less.