Fig. 2.

ASPD morphology and toxicity. (A) Transmission electron microscopic images of isolated ASPD (bars, 100 nm in Lower and 20 nm in Inset). The width (x) and length (y) of each ASPD (n = 101) were measured (Upper). (B) Images of horizontal sections (a) and cross sections (b) of ASPD in the resin as described in Materials and Methods. (C) Fluid-phase atomic force microscopy of ASPD as described in Materials and Methods (n = 100). (D) Toxicity of ASPD. (Top and Middle) After a 40-h ASPD treatment (210 nM), cultures were stained with anti-MAP2 (green) and fillipin (blue). ASPD killed ≈40% neurons, with shrunken or fragmented nuclei stained pink with propidium iodide and Hoechst 33258 (Inset). Cell death in the control culture was <3%. (Bottom) ASPD toxicity was estimated by MTT activity (n = 6). Data in D represent the mean ± SE. *, Significant difference compared with control.