Figure 9.

In the absence of DCX, nestin overexpression does not result in small GCs. A, Representative images of WT or Dcx-null E16 cortical neurons (as labeled) expressing nes-myc with GFP or nes-myc with GFP-DCX after 48 h in culture. WT neurons transfected with nes-myc show smaller axonal GCs (arrows), whereas Dcx KO neurons transfected with nestin-myc do not show smaller GCs. When GFP-DCX is cotransfected into Dcx KO neurons, GCs are smaller. Arrows indicate axon GCs. The GCs of secondary neurites (dendrites) were not considered and are indicated with arrowheads. B′, B′′, B′′′, Quantification of morphologic characteristics. The background shading color behind the images in A represent the conditions shaded in B′, B′′, and B′′′ for easier interpretation. B′, B′′, B′′′, Quantification of morphologic measurements from transfected neurons: GC area (B′), filopodia number (B′′), and axon length (B′′′). Error bars indicate SD. Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA nonparametric test was used. p values are only shown for selected statistical comparisons to keep the graph less cluttered. N = 40-70 cells counted in three different independent experiments.