Figure 5.

Ag-NP-induced oxidative stress and protection by acetyl-L-carnitine. 24 h exposure of NSCs to Ag-NPs significantly increased mitochondrial ROS generation, as indicated by elevated levels of DCF expression [A: F_{(4, 13)} = 28.03, p < 0.0001]. 24 h exposures to Ag-NPs also increased oxidative DNA damage as evidenced by significant increases in 8-oxo-dG expression [F_{(3, 8)} = 24.78, p < 0.001] which was effectively blocked by the co-administration of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) (B). Additionally, the over-expression of Bax protein (a pro-apoptotic marker) induced by Ag-NPs was effectively attenuated by co-administration of acetyl-L-carnitine (C,D). No significant effect was observed when acetyl-L-carnitine was administered alone (B,D). Data are presented as means ± SDs. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001.