Fig. 7. Schematic diagram showing the proposed signaling pathways leading to autophagy activation in the stroke model after Hcy treatment.

Hcy exposure causes the inactivation of mTOR, potentially through the ERK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, which subsequently leads to autophagy activation. The excessively stimulated autophagy finally contributes to the further decrease in NSCs viability after ischemic injury