Fig. 7.
Effects of the α4(V) NTD and collagen domain of type V collagen on neurite outgrowth by dorsal root ganglion neurons. A, Dorsal root ganglia were placed on dishes coated with collagen type IV and either no additional proteins (none), the NTD, collagen type VSC (+SC col V), or pepsinized type V collagen (+pep col V). The ganglia were incubated in serum-free medium with nerve growth factor for 4 d. The micrographs show neurite outgrowth, as visualized by phase contrast microscopy, for representative ganglia. Neurite outgrowth was quantitated as described in Materials and Methods, and the results are displayed graphically. Values shown are mean ± SD for measurements made on four ganglia for each condition. B, Dorsal root ganglia were placed on dishes coated with pepsinized collagen type V (pep col V), the NTD, or an equimolar ratio of pepsinized collagen type V and NTD. The ganglia were incubated, and neurite outgrowth was measured as forA. SC V, Collagen type VSC; pep-V, pepsinized collagen type V. Values that differ significantly from controls are indicated (*p < 0.05; **p < 0.005).