Visualization of vesicle transport along and between distinct pathways in neurites of living cells.

Trafficking of secretory vesicles along neurites of PC12 cells was visualized by 2D and 3D real-time imaging using fluorescence microscopy. Vesicle motion along distinct pathways was directly seen. From an overlay of individual pathways, the underlying cytoskeletal filament could be imaged at a subwavelength resolution.