FIG. 1.

Transection of a neurite with a laser beam and passive recoil of the cut ends. Cultured adult mouse primary sensory neurons grow neurites that are long enough by day 2 to be cut with a laser beam focused and activated for about 1 sec (A). The cut ends suddenly retract and are separated by a few (B) to tens of micrometers (C), depending on various factors (arrowhead indicates site of transection; p, proximal part of the neurite; see Supplementary Video S1; see online supplementary material at http://www.liebertonline.com).