Fig. 6
Effects of inorganic components (IC) and organic components (OC) of PM2.5 on neuronal morphology and gene expression. (a and b) The cytotoxicity of IC and OC to primary cultured cortical neurons. (c) Representative images of primary cortical neurons on DIV2. Bar = 50 μm; (d-f) The average neurite length, axon length, and average neurite number. n = 97 (Veh), 97 (IC) and 97 (OC) neurons from 3 to 5 litters. (g) Representative images of primary cortical neurons on DIV5. Bar = 50 μm; (h and i) The average number of axon branches and the average length of axon branches at different branches. n = 52 (Veh), 52 (IC) and 52 (OC) neurons from 3 to 5 litters. (j) mRNA expression of genes related to neuronal morphological development (n = 3 from 3 litters). Data are presented as mean ± SEM from three independent experiments. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 for comparisons between the PM2.5 exposure group and the vehicle group; #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01 for comparisons between the IC group and the OC group