Fig. 7

Central blockade NLRP3 decreases ASC/Pro-caps-1/IL-1β expression of prehypertensive rats. a A representative western blot of NLRP3 pathway. b Densitometric analysis expression of NLRP3 pathway in the PVN of different groups, n = 3. c A representative immunofluorescence image of ASC, scale bar 100 μm, and immunohistochemistry image of IL-1β, scale bar 50 μm, showing the changes of ASC and IL-1β expression when central blockade NLRP3 was stopped. d Densitometric analysis of immunofluorescent intensity of ASC in various groups. e Densitometric analysis of integrated OD of IL-1β in various groups, n = 6–8. Values are expressed as means ± SEM. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.001, ***P < 0.0001, 3 V, third ventricle