Figure 3

Fig. 3. MTs remain stationary in rapidly growing neurites plated on Con A-coated surface in the presence of neurotrophic factors. Phase contrast (A-B) and fluorescent (C-D) images of neurite growing in the presence of neurotrophic factors NT-3, BDNF and CNTF (50 ng/ml each) in the culture medium. The photobleaching was performed 18 hours after cell culture preparation. The length of the neurite was about 900 µm and the rate of axonal growth was about 57 µm/h. The photobleached zone was clearly visible during the experiment (30 min) and remained stationary within experimental error (about 1 µm). (E) Fluorescence intensity profiles of axonal segment including photobleached segment created from images C (20 s after photobleaching, open circles) and D (30 min 20 s after photobleaching, filled squares). The bottom of the fluorescence intensity profile (arrows) remained stationary within experimental error (about 1 µm). Bars, 10 µm.