Nox4 promotes neural stem/precursor cell proliferation and neurogenesis in the hippocampus and restores memory function following trimethyltin-induced injury.

•Nox4 is expressed in neural stem/precursor cells (NS/PCs) in culture and in the brain.•Nox inhibitors or Nox4 deletion attenuate bFGF-induced growth of NS/PCs, while Nox4 overexpression enhances the cell growth.•Expression of Nox4 is increased in the hippocampus following trimethyltin-induced hippocampal injury.•Proliferation of NS/PCs and neurogenesis following trimethyltin-induced neuronal injury are attenuated in Nox4−/− mice.•Restoration from the trimethyltin-induced impairment in hippocampal learning and memory is attenuated in Nox4−/− mice.