title: Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells form neurites in the presence of taxol and cytochalasin D.
abstract: We have examined the role of microtubules and microfilaments in neurite outgrowth by chemically modifying their interaction in Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells. Cells exposed to taxol (1 microM), an agent that promotes microtubule polymerization and stabilization, did not form neurites over a 24 h period. Similarly, cells exposed to cytochalasin D (4 microM), an agent which promotes microfilament depolymerization, did not develop neurites. However, cells treated simultaneously with taxol (1 microM) and cytochalasin D (4 microM) produced long (50 microns) thin, unbranched neurites. Neurites formed during this simultaneous treatment grew in a circular pattern, lacked typical growth cones, were packed densely with microtubules and were deficient in microfilaments. Untreated cells maintained in control medium for 24 h formed short (15 microns), thick, highly branched neurites containing a dense meshwork of microtubules, microfilaments and neurofilaments. These results demonstrate that taxol does not block neurite outgrowth from Neuro-2a cells maintained under microfilament-limiting conditions. They suggest further that microtubules may provide the major cytoskeletal framework for neurite elongation.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Spero
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Roisen
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology*; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D015638:Cytochalasin D; D003572:Cytochalasins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology*; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology*; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D017239:Paclitaxel
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D003572:Cytochalasins; D015638:Cytochalasin D; D017239:Paclitaxel