Table 3.

Axonal branching of layer 6 neurons

		+ Soluble ephrin-A5
Control membranes	100  ± 25.8, n = 29	85.9  ± 24.8, n = 30 ns
Ephrin-A5 membranes	222  ± 33.4, n = 33	141.4  ± 26.5, n = 42*

	Control	+ PI-PLC
Layers 1–4 membranes	100  ± 12.07, n = 53	65.3  ± 9.6, n = 54*

The explants were grown on membranes from control and ephrin A-5 NIH3T3 cells, in the presence of soluble ephrin-A5 applied to the culture medium. Under these conditions, the increase in axonal branching observed when the explants were cultured on ephrin-A5-containing membranes was significantly reduced. In addition, soluble ephrin-A5 did not promote axonal branching when cortical explants were cultured on control cell membranes. When layer 6 neurons were cultured on cortical membranes prepared from layers 1–4, previously treated with PI-PLC, axonal branching decreased significantly, compared with the control.

*p < 0.05; ns, not significant. n = number of axons examined.