Signaling cascades mediate astrocyte death induced by zinc

► Zinc chloride induced ROS generation in astrocytes. ► Zinc chloride-induced ROS activated PKC. ► Zinc chloride-induced ROS inactivated protein tyrosine phosphatase activity. ► Zinc chloride-induced protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibition activated Src. ► Zinc chloride caused astrocyte death via ROS/PKC/Ras/Raf/ERK and ROS/Src/Ras/Raf/ERK signaling.