Figure 6

bFGF-mediated morphological alterations of RD-ES cells. (A) After RD-ES cells were seeded to 35 mm dishes and incubated for 12 h, bFGF (10 ng ml⁻¹) was added to the medium. Representative photographs of phase-contrast microscopy ( × 10) were taken at 0 h (left panel) and 12 h (right panel) after bFGF stimulation. The cell morphology changed from a round shape to a polarised and elongated shape upon bFGF treatment (arrowheads in right panel) Scale bar: 100 μm. (B) The percentage of cells with an elongated shape among the total cell population was quantified. Cells were counted in five fields per dish and assayed in triplicate for each condition. Data are depicted as mean±s.d. ^***P<0.001. (C) RD-ES cells were seeded and incubated with bFGF (10 ng ml⁻¹) for 12 h. The cells were fixed and stained with TRITC-conjugated phalloidin. Non-treated, control RD-ES cells had a polygonal shape and organised stress fibres (arrows in left panel). In contrast, bFGF treatment induced the organisation of cortical actin with a remarkable degree of lamellipodia formation (arrowheads in right panel). Scale bar: 50 μm.