Figure 9

Sodium azide treatment reversibly inhibits axonal transport but does not cause axonal degeneration. A. Neurons were treated with 1 mM sodium azide for 1 h, with sodium azide for 1 h and then returned to control media for 1 h, or were mock-treated. Axonal transport of both Golgi-derived vesicles and mitochondria was severely inhibited by sodium azide, but recovered completely. Values for transport events and velocity were normalized to control level. Error bar indicates SD. B. Axonal morphology was visualized at varying times after 1 h sodium azide exposure using antibodies against beta3-tubulin. Exposure to 1 mM sodium azide for 1 h did not induce axonal degeneration. Scale bar, 20 μm. (* P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001).