(A) Representative immunofluorescence images of neurite outgrowth within NSC cultures, at 1, 7 and 14 day time points. Quantification of neurite outgrowth at each dosage of cadmium (B), mercury (C), and lead (D), performed at regular intervals over a 14-day culture. Cadmium chloride, mercury chloride and lead acetate were each added at 10 pM to 1 nM dosage. Metal-free cultures served as controls. Scale bar: 50 μm. * indicates p < 0.05, † indicates p < 0.01, ‡ indicates p < 0.001, and no notation for p > 0.05, compared to controls.