Fig. 4: HMF exposure decreased ROS levels of adult NSCs.

a Experimental timeline and strategy for isolation of aNSCs from the adult DG of Nestin-GFP mice using FACS, followed by RNA-sequencing. b, c Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of differentially expressed genes. Diagram of GO (Biological Process) terms that are significantly enriched in upregulated genes (b) or downregulated genes (c). d Difference in mRNA expression of ROS-related genes from aNSCs of GMF- and HMF-exposed mice. e RT-qPCR analysis of expression levels of selected genes associated with ROS synthesis and metabolism. Y-axis data is the relative mRNA expression ratio of HMF to GMF, and data of GMF is standardized to 1. P values were determined using two-tailed unpaired t test. f Hydroethidine fluorescence staining in the DG of Nestin-GFP mice after 8-weeks GMF and HMF exposure. Scale bar = 20 μm. g Quantification of hydroethidine fluorescence insensitive of GFP⁺ aNSCs in the DG of Nestin-GFP mice after 8-weeks GMF and HMF exposure, GMF, n = 400 cells from four mice, HMF, n = 400 cells from four mice. P values were determined using two-tailed unpaired t test. h Representative images of GFP⁺ cells in the DG of Nestin-GFP mice after 8-weeks GMF and HMF exposure. Scale bar = 100 μm. i Quantification of numbers of GFP⁺ cells of in the DG of Nestin-GFP mice after 8-weeks GMF and HMF exposure. GMF, n = 10 mice, HMF, n = 10 mice. P values were determined using two-tailed unpaired t test. The data in (g, i) were presented in the whisker plot with defined elements, median (centerline), upper and lower quartiles (bounds of box), and highest and lowest values (whiskers). Other data are presented as mean ± SEM.