Dorsal Root Ganglion neurones in culture

Dorsal root ganglion nerve cells stained to reveal the microtubules (green) and actin filaments (red). The axon shaft contains bundles of microtubules that give structural support and carry cargo (protein and membranes) to and from the cell body. The "hand-like" structure at the end of the axon is called the growth cone. This is very motile and reads and integrates molecular cues in the environment. It also guides the growing nerve to its target in the growing embryo. Biomedical Image Awards 2001.