Fig. 6

Apocynin activated the NLRP3 inflammasome via autophagy 7 and 14 days after stroke. During the delayed stage of ischemia, rapamycin induced autophagy but inactivated the NLPR3⁺ inflammasome, and 3-MA inhibited autophagy but activated the expression of NLRP3. Apocynin plus 3-MA or rapamycin inhibited autophagy but promoted NLPR3⁺ inflammasome activation. A Representative immunofluorescence images of colocalized NLPR3 and LC3B staining and DAPI counterstaining 7 days after stroke in the ischemic border. B, C Quantification of NLRP3- and LC3B-positive cells 7 days after stroke. D Representative immunofluorescence images of colocalized NLRP3 and LC3B staining and DAPI counterstaining 14 days after stroke in the ischemic border. E, F Quantification of NLRP3- and LC3B-positive cells 14 days after stroke. Scale bar = 50 μm. *P < 0.05 vs. the sham group, ^&P < 0.05 vs. the vehicle group, ^#P < 0.05 vs. the APO group. All data are expressed as the mean ± SD. n = 5/group