Fig. 8. Nd1-L suppresses cytochalasin-induced actin destabilization. Primary culture of mouse hippocampal neurons (21 DIV) were transfected with either RFP plasmids (vector) or plasmids containing RFP fused to Nd1-L (Nd1-L) by nuclear injection. RFP protein was ubiquitously distributed in RFP-expressing neurons. Nd1-L-RFP protein was localized in the cell body and dendrites (third row). When neurons expressing RFP were treated with cytochalasin D (0.2 µM) for 48 hours (vector/CytD), the actin filaments in the dendritic spines were disrupted. However, in Nd1-L-expressing neurons, cytochalasin D did not affect F-actin in the spines (Nd1-L/CytD). A highly magnified view of a dendrite is shown under each larger image. Bar, 30 µm; 5 µm for higher magnification.