Fig. 1

Morphological changes to BV-2 cells induced by H₂O₂. Phase contrast images of BV-2 cells incubated with different H₂O₂ concentrations (0, 50, and 5500 μM) at 0, 2.5 and 18, and 20 h. a–c Medium control. d–f, j H₂O₂ 50 μM. g–i H₂O₂ 5500 μM. j At ×40 high magnification, irregular cell surface and globular extrusions were observed which was highlighted by a light halo. Healthy cells appeared as spheres with white halos (a–e, g). Dead cells appeared as dark objects (h, i). H₂O₂ induced the inhibition of cell proliferation in all studied concentrations (***P < 0.001) after 20 h of exposure time. Decrease in cell proliferation was dose-dependent (P < 0.001). All H₂O₂ treated groups were normalized and compared with the control group. Data is represented as mean ± SD