Fig. 5

Autophagy inhibitors aggravated neuronal toxicity inhibited by Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides by preventing mitochondrial damage. A Tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β levels in astrocyte supernatants were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Intracellular (B) and mitochondrial (C) reactive oxygen species levels were assessed using the DCFDA probe and MitoSOX probe. D Mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed using the JC-1 probe. E Isolation and identification of primary neurons by light microscopy and fluorescent staining for neuron-specific enolase. F Cell viability of neurons was determined by cell counting kit-8 assay. G Apoptosis of neurons was determined by flow cytometry. H Apoptosis-related protein levels (cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9) in neurons were determined by western blotting. Data are shown as the mean ± standard deviation of three independent experiments. **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001 by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s post hoc test