FIG 8.

Axons allow neuron-to-neuron propagation. (A) LA-N-5 cells were treated with the indicated concentration of vinblastine (Vin) or paclitaxel (Pac) in fluid medium for 72 h and then stained for spike glycoprotein (red), βIII-tubulin (green), and nuclei (blue). Representative pictures taken by confocal microscopy are shown. (B, C) LA-N-5 cells (B) and HRT-18 cells were infected at an MOI of 0.01 and cultured for 72 h in fluid or semifluid medium containing the specified concentration of vinblastine or paclitaxel. Infected cells were then fixed and immunostained to determine the percentage of infection. (D, E) Effect of paclitaxel on the axonal association of spike platforms. (D) Infected LA-N-5 cells (MOI = 0.2) were treated with 250 nM paclitaxel for 20 h, fixed, and immunostained. (E) Data plotted in the graph are the amount of spike platforms per micrometer of infected axons. The error bars represent the standard deviation from the mean from 3 independent experiments (B, C) or the standard deviation for >200 individual axonal structures (E). *, P < 0.05.