Figure 8

Fig. 8. Quantitative analysis of the effects of BFA on axonal growth on laminin (A) and Con-A (B)-coated surfaces. In each experiment the average rate of axonal growth before BFA application (10 µg/ml) was determined for a period of 20-30 min. The rate of axonal elongation was measured as a function of time after the onset of BFA application and was normalized to that before BFA application. Each point represents the mean ± sem of 14 (A) and 20 (B) different experiments. For neurites growing on Con A-coated substrate in 2 out of 16 experiments we observed a decrease in axonal diameter a few minutes after BFA application. These neurites continued to grow for at least 2 hours and became progressively thinner. They were excluded from the analysis.