Table 3.
Quantification of neuronal shape parameters in neurons overexpressing wt-LIMK1 and their mutants
| Groups | No. of primary neurites/cell | Total axonal length (μm) | No. of collateral branches (axon) | No. of growth cone like structures/axon | Growth cone area (μm2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nontransfected | 5.2 ± 0.4 | 295 ± 22 | 12 ± 2 | 1.2 ± 0.2 | 16 ± 4 |
| wt-LIMK1 | 5.6 ± 0.2 | 425 ± 65* | 26 ± 4* | 5.4 ± 0.6* | 46 ± 7* |
| LIMK1-kd | 5.2 ± 0.4 | 545 ± 44* | 45 ± 8* | 1.2 ± 0.2 | 9 ± 2* |
| Δ-LIM (wt) | 5.8 ± 0.4 | 220 ± 16* | 18 ± 6 | 4.8 ± 0.4* | 68 ± 8* |
| Δ-LIM (kd) | 5.2 ± 0.2 | 636 ± 32* | 56 ± 10* | 1.6 ± 0.4 | 8 ± 2 |
| Δ-PDZ (wt) | 4.8 ± 0.4 | 388 ± 14* | 22 ± 6* | 2.5 ± 0.5 | 22 ± 8 |
| Δ-PDZ (kd) | 5.1 ± 0.7 | 180 ± 26* | 8 ± 4 | 1.0 ± 0.3 | 10 ± 2 |
Each value represents the mean ± SEM. At least 100 cells were analyzed for each experimental condition. Two DIV hippocampal pyramidal cultures were transfected with each of the constructs, fixed 18 h later, and processed for immunofluorescence with a rabbit antibody against HA and a mAb against the class III β-tubulin isotype. Control nontransfected cells had similar neuronal shape parameters to those of cells transfected with GFP alone (6 μg DNA).
*
Values significantly different from those of nontransfected neurons.