Fig. 5.

NGF induces neurite extension and increase in N-type Ca²⁺ current in PC12 cells. (A) Näive/SHAM cells plus NGF. (Left) Phase-contrast photograph of neuronal-like differentiated PC12 cells after NGF treatment. (Scale bar: 20 μm.) (Right) Distribution histogram of neurites' length emitted by naïve/SHAM cells in absence (ctrol, white bar) or presence of NGF for 8 days (gray bar). (Inset) Mean neurite length. ∗∗∗, P < 0.001. (B) Ca²⁺ currents are presented as in Fig. 2. For distinction between “no-diff” and “diff” cells, see Results. NGF-differentiated PC12 cells (diff) have a cell capacitance >13 pF and visible neurites. (Scale bars: 2 pA/pF and 8 msec.) ∗∗, P < 0.005.