Transmission electron micrographs of C2 myoblasts
treated with beads coated with BSA (A) or NEC (B and C). The cells were
incubated with the beads for 48 h in growth medium, fixed, and processed for transmission electron
microscopy. Notice that the contact region with the NEC-coated bead is
characterized by focal, foot-like adhesions (arrows), whereas the
attachment to the BSA beads is tight and uniform. Sarcomeric filament
bundles were found in the cytoplasm of the N-cadherin–stimulated cells
(C) (arrowheads point to Z lines). Bars, 1 μm.