Fig. 2

NLRP3 deficiency decreased binge drinking-induced anxiety-like behavior. A Schematic of the training procedure showing the mixed DID and alcohol gavage paradigm. B Alcohol consumption in WT + alcohol and NLRP3 KO + alcohol group during three training sessions. NLRP3 KO + alcohol group showed significantly lower alcohol drinking levels than WT + alcohol group at 4 h in session 3. ^#p < 0.05, two-way RM ANOVA, n = 12 mice per group. C The statistics of 4-h alcohol intake in each session. ***p < 0.001, SNK in two-way RM ANOVA. D Schematic diagram of open field test. E Left, the representative traces in WT, WT + alcohol and NLRP3 KO + alcohol group. Right, WT + alcohol group spent less time in the center area compared to WT group, while NLRP3 KO + alcohol group spent more time in the center area compared to WT + alcohol group. *p < 0.05 vs WT group, ^##p < 0.01 vs WT + alcohol group, one-way ANOVA. F Schematic diagram of EPM and representative samples traces of each group in the EPM. G Summary of open-arm time (left), open-arm entries (middle) and velocity (right). **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 vs WT group, ^##p < 0.01 vs WT + alcohol group, one-way ANOVA, n = 8 mice (WT), 6 mice (WT + Alcohol) and 8 mice (NLRP3 KO + Alcohol). Data are presented as mean ± SEM