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Fig. 8 | Particle and Fibre Toxicology

Fig. 8

From: Neuroinflammation is induced by tongue-instilled ZnO nanoparticles via the Ca2+-dependent NF-κB and MAPK pathways

Fig. 8

Effect of ZnO NPs on the intracellular Ca2+, expression of P2X7 receptor and ultrastructure changes in BV2 cells. (a) BV2 cells were treated with ZnO NPs (30 μg/mL) for 1, 3, 6 or 12 h, cells were stained with Ca2+ indicator Fluo4-AM (green) and DAPI (blue). Scale bar represents 200 μm. Compare the mean fluorescence intensity of Ca2+ measured in BV2 cells (b), and an obvious increase in the Ca2+ fluorescence(green) was observed in a time-dependent manner. The expression of P2X7 receptor was increased in a dose-dependent manner after treating with ZnO NPs in BV2 cells at doses of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 μg/mL for 1, 3, 6 or 12 h (c). The dilatational endoplasmic reticulum and the empty and swollen mitochondria were observed after ZnO NPs (30 μg/mL) for 6 h treatment in BV2 cells (d). The yellow arrows show the dilatational endoplasmic reticulum and the red arrows show the swollen mitochondria. Results shown as means ± SD from three independent experiments, compare with control group, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. Abbreviations: cont: control; ZnO: zinc oxide nanoparticles; P2X7: P2X purinoceptor 7; DAPI: 4,6-diamino-2-phenyl indole; SD: Standard deviation

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